NYSDOH: How often should you eat fish from our fresh waters?

The New York State Department of Health has released an updated fish advisory for 2024, aimed at guiding residents on the frequency and types of fish that are safe to consume from the state’s freshwater sources. The advisory is particularly relevant for those who fish for both food and sport, offering specific information for different fish species within New York. This initiative addresses concerns about certain fish containing harmful levels of chemicals, such as mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which can pose risks to human health. Notably, consuming fish with elevated levels of these chemicals may increase the risk of developmental or learning delays in children, among other long-term health effects. The advisory recommends eating fish like trout, yellow perch, sunfish, crappie, and smaller walleye, while suggesting reduced consumption of freshwater drum, white perch, larger walleye, and smallmouth bass due to higher contaminant levels. Additionally, it provides waterbody-specific advice for areas with fish containing higher levels of mercury or PCBs, with Lake Ontario highlighted for offering a variety of healthier fish choices.

Source: Rochester First