Fish Health Advisories

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) routinely monitors contaminant levels in fish and wildlife. The New York State Department of Health (DOH) issues an advisory on eating sportfish and wildlife taken in New York State because some of these foods contain potentially harmful levels of chemical contaminants. The health advisories are: (1) general advice on sportfish taken from waters in New York State; (2) advice on sportfish from specific waterbodies; and (3) advice on wildlife. The advisory is developed and updated annually.

The information presented here is a summary of information provided by the Department of Health. For the most up-to-date and accurate data regarding fish consumption advisories, visit the New York Department of Health's website (see link at right). The site contains a complete, current booklet on this topic, available in pdf format.

General Advisory for Eating Sportfish

The following recommendations are based on contaminant levels in fish and shellfish. The advisories are for the year 2006, but they may change from year to year based on new information. To minimize potential adverse health impacts, the NYS Dept. of Health recommends:

Eat no more than one meal (one-half pound) per week of fish from the state's freshwaters, the Hudson River estuary, Upper Bay of New York Harbor (north of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge), Arthur Kill, Kill Van Kull, Newark Bay, Raritan Bay west of Wolfe's Pond Park, East River to the Throgs Neck Bridge and Harlem River, except as otherwise recommended.
Women of childbearing age, infants and children under the age of 15 should not eat any fish species from listed waters.
Follow trimming and cooking advice.
Observe the identified restrictions on eating fish from listed waters and their tributaries to the first barrier impassable by fish.
Certain larger, older fish in the Adirondack and Catskill Mountain regions often contain relatively high levels of mercury in their flesh. Because of this, children under 15 and women of child-bearing age should avoid eating these fish. Consult the listing below.

Regional Advice for Women and Children (Adirondack and Catskill Waters):

Lower Mercury Levels - Eat no more than one meal per week Brook, brown and rainbow trout; Bullhead; Bluegill/sunfish; Rock Bass; Crappie; and Yellow perch less than 10"
Higher Mercury levels - EAT NONE Northern pike, Pickerel, Walleye, Largemouth and Smallmouth bass, and Yellow perch longer than 10"

More about Fish Health Advisories:

Advice on Fish Health Advisories (includes botulism) - Includes advice on marine fish, deformed fish, botulism, and bacteria, viruses and parasites in fish and game.
Reducing Exposure to Chemical Contaminants from Fish - General Advice on Reducing Exposure to Chemical Contaminants from Fish.