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Are fish safe to eat?
Release Date: 7/11/2002
Contact Information:
202 564-5777,
Release Date: 7/11/2002
Contact Information:
202 566-0389
- You=ve just gone fishing and now you are wondering, “Are they safe to eat? How do I clean these things?” You have heard many reports that eating fish is part of a healthy diet. And what could be better than eating fish fresh off the hook? However, you may also have heard stories of polluted water and contaminated fish.
“In the 30 years since its passage, the Clean Water Act has dramatically increased the number of waterways that are once again safe for fishing and swimming,” said EPA’s Administrator Christine Todd Whitman. “Despite this great progress in reducing water pollution, many of the nation’s waters still do not meet water quality goals. I challenge you to join me in finishing the business of restoring and protecting our nation’s waters for present and future generations.”
EPA has been working with the States and Tribes to better monitor the condition and health of all waters as well as the health of the fish caught by recreational and subsistence fishers. EPA is also working with the Food and Drug Administration to ensure the fish you purchase in stores or restaurants are free of unsafe levels of pollutants such as mercury. The good news is that States and Tribes are now doing a much better job of monitoring waters and fish for unsafe levels of pollutants and issuing consumption advisories.
So, what exactly does an advisory mean? Should I avoid eating fish altogether because some are polluted? Well, the answer is no. An advisory is simply a guide for the public to make informed choices about their health and diet and those of their family. The advisories identify species of fish that should be eaten in limited quantities or should be avoided altogether due to contamination.
It is somewhat similar to the food pyramid we all learned in grade school that recommends how much of what types should be eaten daily. Perhaps equally as important, advisories encourage recreational fishing activities and stress the importance of including clean fish as part of a healthy, wholesome diet.
EPA=s goal here is not to discourage you from fishing or eating fish but rather to help you select and prepare fish low in chemical pollutants. According to EPA, mercury is the main cause of fish advisories nationwide but there are other pollutants that may trigger an advisory. Mercury eaten by pregnant women can cause developmental problems for the unborn and for young children. Recently however, EPA worked closely with the Centers for Disease Control to send information and advisories to over 100,000 pediatricians, obstetricans, and gynecologists on the potential risks associated with eating contaminated fish. Pregnant women and those who are planning to become pregnant should consult their doctor for more specific advice. EPA believes that these types of partnerships are critical in order to get the word to those with the most potential risk.
That sounds pretty scary. Shouldn=t we just stay away from fish altogether? No, absolutely not. Fish has important health benefits but there are certain precautions that you should take to reduce your risk and to protect yourself and your family. In addition to avoiding some types of fish or certain polluted waters, the way you prepare the fish matters. For example, trim off extra fat because that is where contaminants (other than mercury) tend to accumulate in fish. Also, try to avoid very large fish. They have had a longer time to grow and accumulate toxins in their bodies. Most advisories are structured in ways that provide guidelines on how much of a certain fish you should eat. An advisory might recommend eating certain types of fish only once a week, once a month, or none at all. Eating a variety of different types of fish is also important.
So where can you learn more about which fish are safe and which are not? First you can visit EPA=s website at https://www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/. From this website, you can contact the state where you live or where you go fishing to determine if there are any advisories in that state. You can also call contact EPA at 1-800-490-9198 to order copies of the brochure Should I Eat the Fish I Catch?
These brochures (available in six languages) provide information about how to trim and cook your fish to reduce your health risks.You can also visit the Food and Drug Administration’s website at http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/admehg.html for information about the safety of fish purchased in stores and restaurants.
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