DEP Issues Updated Fish Consumption Advisories for 2011
PA-DEP Release
17 December 2010
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA., 17120
CONTACT: Jamie Legenos, Department of Environmental Protection,
717-783-1323
HARRISBURG -- The Department of Environmental Protection today released
an updated list of fish consumption advisories that includes nine new
advisories, but also eases or lifts seven other advisories.
The advisories are only for fish caught recreationally and do not apply
to fish raised for commercial purposes or those bought in stores or
restaurants.
“Consumption advisories are not intended to discourage anyone from
fishing or eating fresh fish in moderation,” DEP Secretary John Hanger
said. “However, at-risk groups and people who regularly eat sport fish
are most susceptible to contaminants that can build up in fish over
time and should space out fish meals according to these advisories, and
in consultation with their physician.”
While fish can be part of a healthy, balanced diet, some fish caught in
Pennsylvania may contain chemicals of concern such as mercury and PCBs.
These contaminants exist in some waterways due to unregulated
industrial practices of the past.
Consumers can reduce the potential risk of exposure to organic
contaminants by properly cleaning, skinning, trimming and cooking fish.
Proper preparation generally includes trimming away fat and broiling or
grilling the fish to allow remaining fat to drip away. Juices and fats
that cook out of the fish should not be eaten or reused for cooking or
preparing other foods.
All of Pennsylvania remains under a blanket advisory that recommends
limiting consumption of any recreationally-caught fish to one meal per
week. This advisory is designed to protect against eating large amounts
of fish from waters that have not been tested, or for certain species
that have not been tested or fish that may contain other unidentified
contaminants. One meal is considered to be one-half pound of fish for a
150-pound person.
For 2011, the following new advisories have been added due to mercury
contamination:
• Two meals per month advisory for Smallmouth Bass in the Delaware
River in Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties;
• One meal per month advisory for Largemouth Bass in Shohola Lake in
Pike County;
• Two meals per month advisory for Largemouth Bass in Lackawanna Lake
in Lackawanna County;
• Two meals per month advisory for Largemouth Bass in Stephen Foster
Lake in Bradford County;
• One meal per month advisory for Smallmouth Bass in the Susquehanna
River in Bradford and Wyoming counties;
• Two meals per month advisory for Smallmouth Bass in the Allegheny
River in Warren, Forest, and Venango counties;
• One meal per month advisory for Northern Pike in Conneaut Lake in
Crawford County; and
• One meal per month advisory for Largemouth Bass in Crystal Lake in
Crawford County.
One new advisory has been added due to PCB contamination:
• One meal per month advisory has been issued for Corbicula (Asiatic
Clam) in the Schuylkill River in Chester, Montgomery, and Philadelphia
counties.
The following PCB advisories have been eased but not lifted:
• Carp in the Monongahela and the Ohio Rivers at the Point in
Pittsburgh has been reduced to a one meal per month advisory;
• Channel Catfish in the Ohio River at the Point in Pittsburgh has been
reduced to a one meal per month advisory;
• Brown Trout in Valley Creek in Chester County has been reduced to a
one meal per month advisory. Note: Valley Creek remains a No Harvest –
PFBC Catch and Release All Tackle Regulation.
Consumption advisories have been lifted for the following:
• Lackawanna Lake in Lackawanna County for Bluegill;
• West Conewago Creek in York County for Smallmouth Bass;
• Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers at the Point in Pittsburgh
for Freshwater Drum;
• Licking Creek in Fulton and Franklin Counties for Smallmouth Bass.
More information on fish consumption advisories and the most current
advisories are available online at www.depweb.state.pa.us, Keyword:
“Fish Advisories” and http://www.fishandboat.com/fishpub/summary/sumconsumption.pdf.