; The Eat Safe Fish Guide

can help you find fish 

species that have been 

tested for chemicals 

by the MDCH Lab. The 

Guide can help you and 

your family choose fish 

that are safer to eat.

Why are there chemicals in some fish?

There are many ways 

chemicals end up in lakes 

and rivers, including 

wind and rain run-off.

The chemicals sink 

to the bottom of 

the lake or river, 

where they settle in 

the sediment.

Small creatures, called 

macroinvertebrates, eat 

these chemicals as they dig 

in the sediment for food.

The macroinvertebrates are eaten by minnows, 

minnows by medium-sized fish, and those fish are 

eaten by large fish - each collecting and storing 

some of the chemicals in their bodies.

This is why larger fish, predator fish, and longerliving fish are likely to have more chemicals in 

their bodies than smaller, younger fish. The Eat 

Safe Fish Guide can help you find safer fish.

1

2

3

4

5

To get the Eat Safe Fish Guide for your region or to learn more about catching or buying safe fish, call MDCH at 

1-800-648-6942 or visit us online at www.michigan.gov/eatsafefish. www.michigan.gov/eatsafefish

; PCBs, dioxins, and mercury are the 

most common chemicals found in 

filets of Michigan fish.

; These chemicals are persistent 

and bioaccumulative. This means 

the chemicals not only stay in the 

environment, they also build up in 

living things.

; Because of this, they have become 

part of the food chain for fish, as 

you can see in the picture above.

; Some chemicals, like PCBs 

and dioxins, build up in the 

fat of the fish. Mercury 

builds up in the muscle, or 

filet, of the fish.

; If you choose fish lower in mercury 

and follow the 3Cs, you can keep 

chemicals from building up in your 

body, too.

; You can’t see or taste these 

chemicals. They do not change 

how clear or dirty the water looks. 

The only way to know if these 

chemicals are in the fish is by 

testing for them in a laboratory.

Learn about eating safe, 

local, and healthful fish 

from our 

Great Lakes State.

What are ‘safe’ fish?

Safe fish are fish that are low in 

chemicals. If you use the Eat Safe 

Fish Guide when you choose fish 

to catch and eat, you will protect 

yourself and your family from 

chemicals that could someday 

make you sick.

If there are chemicals in the 

fish, why should I still eat it?

Fish have a lot of great health 

benefits.

; Fish can be a great low-fat 

source of protein.

; Fish are brain food.

; Some fish have hearthealthy omega-3s.

Plus, fishing is a fun way to get outside 

and enjoy Michigan’s 11,000 

lakes, rivers, and streams!

If you follow the 3Cs

and go after fish 

that have fewer 

chemicals in 

them, you’ll get a 

lot of health benefits 

and have very little risk.

with support from

For more information on safe fish, call 

MDCH at 1-800-648-6942 or visit us online at 

www.michigan.gov/eatsafefish.

Catching fish • Buying fish • Eating fish

in Michigan

eat 

safe 

fish
You can’t remove mercury from fish by cleaning and cooking.

Always choose your fish wisely!

Clean 2 Cook 3

Even after trimming away the fat that 

you can see on the fish, some fat will 

still be hidden inside the fish filets.

; Poke holes in the skin or 

remove it completely so that 

fat can drip away from the fish 

filet as it cooks.

; Cook your fish on a grill or on 

a broiler pan in the oven. Any 

fat left can now drip away from 

the fish through the grates. 

If you cook your fish like this, you can 

get rid of even more of the chemicals 

that can be in the filet...except 

mercury, of course! 

Get to know the By choosing the right fish and then 

cleaning and cooking it the right 

way, you can reduce some of the 

chemicals in the fish by nearly half!

Some chemicals, like PCBs and dioxins, 

collect in the fat of the fish. 

; When cleaning the fish, trim 

away any of the fat you can 

see. Remove and throw away 

the organs, too. 

Careful cleaning can remove a lot of 

the chemicals from the fish.

Cut away the fat 

along the back

Cut away the fatty 

area along the side

Cut away 

the belly fat

Choose 1

If ALL are TRUE for you:

You’re at lower risk from chemicals in fish. 

The S.A.F.E. tips will help you choose fish to 

eat once in a while without worry!

If ONE or MORE are FALSE:

You might be at higher risk. 

The Eat Safe Fish Guide will lead you to fish 

that are safer to eat on a regular basis.

The Eat Safe Fish Guide:

; lists fish species that 

have had filets tested for 

chemicals by MDCH.

; protects people who eat 

Michigan fish often.

; protects anyone who has health 

problems, is young, is pregnant, or 

is planning on having children in 

the future.

s Smaller fish are better.

They tend to have fewer chemicals.

a

Avoid large predator fish & 

bottom-feeders. Always check the Eat Safe Fish Guide before 

eating these fish.

f Fat should be removed.

Some chemicals are stored in the fat of the fish.

e Eat fish that have been broiled or 

grilled on a rack.

More fat can drip away during cooking.

T F I only eat fish caught in Michigan a few times each year.

T F I’m 15 years old or older.

T F I DON’T plan on having children in the next several years.

T F I DON’T have health problems, like cancer or diabetes.

I DON’T eat fish from a lake or river that has posted signs with 

“Do Not Eat” guidelines from MDCH.

T F

This quiz will help you find the best way for you to choose your fish. 

Read each sentence and mark ‘T’ for true or ‘F’ for false.

Need a Guide? Call MDCH at 1-800-648-6942 or visit 

www.michigan.gov/eatsafefish.