FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORIES

Don't stop eating fish. Fish is a good source of protein and low in saturated fat. You can still get the benefits of eating fish by wisely choosing safer types of fish, safer places to catch fish, and using moderation in how much you eat.

Small pan fish, such as perch, rock bass and crappie (if less than 9 inches), bluegill and sunfish of all sizes are very low in methylmercury.

At least 35 states have fish consumption advisories in place for mercury for certain lakes and streams. For example, the Michigan Department of Public Health (MDPH) has issued a fish consumption advisory for all of Michigan's 11,000 inland lakes as a result of mercury contaminated fish being found in many of the lakes sampled.

The advisory includes walleye, pike and bass species as well as some of the larger sizes of perch and crappie (over 9 inches).

It is advised that the general public eat no more than one meal a week of the species listed in the advisory. This recommendation drops to one meal per month for nursing mothers, pregnant women, women planning pregnancy, and children under 15 years of age. The federal trigger limit used for issuing fish consumption advisories for mercury is 1.0 parts per million (ppm).

Certain types of fish often contain higher levels of methylmercury. Included in this group are larger, older predatory fish, such as walleye, bass and pike.

Exposure to methylmercury can also occur from eating certain ocean fish. Nursing mothers, pregnant women, women who intend to have children, and children under the age of 15 should NOT eat any swordfish or shark.

To Ingestion of Fish

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