INTRODUCTION

Fish are an important part of a healthy diet. They

are a lean, low-calorie source of protein. Some

sport fish caught in the nation’s lakes, rivers,

oceans, and estuaries, however, may contain

chemicals that could pose health risks if these fish

are eaten in large amounts.

The purpose of this brochure is not to discourage

you from eating fish. It is intended as a guide to

help you select and prepare fish that are low in

chemical pollutants. By following these recommendations, you and your family can continue to enjoy

the benefits of eating fish.

Fish taken from polluted waters might be hazardous to your health. Eating fish containing chemical

pollutants may cause birth defects, liver damage,

cancer, and other serious health problems.

Chemical pollutants in water come from many

sources. They come from factories and sewage

treatment plants that you can easily see. They also

come from sources that you can’t easily see, like

chemical spills or runoff from city streets and farm

fields. Pollutants are also carried long distances in

the air.

Fish may be exposed to chemical pollutants in the

water, and the food they eat. They may take up

some of the pollutants into their bodies. The

pollutants are found in the skin, fat, internal

organs, and sometimes muscle tissue of the fish.

FOR MORE

INFORMATION

For more information about reducing your health

risks from eating fish that contain chemical

pollutants, contact your local or state health or

environmental protection department. You can

find the telephone number in the blue section of

your local telephone directory.

You may also contact:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Water

Fish Contamination Program (4305)

401 M Street, SW

Washington, DC 20460

email address: www.epa.gov/ost/fishadvice

Should I Eat the

Fish I Catch?

A guide to healthy

eating of the fish

you catch

United States EPA 823-B-97-009

Environmental Protection September 1997

Agency

Health Note

Office of Science and Technology (4305)

Advisories are different from fishing

restrictions or bans or limits.

Advisories are issued to provide

recommendations for limiting the

amount of fish to be eaten due to

levels of pollutants in the fish.

What can I do to reduce my health

risks from eating fish containing

chemical pollutants ?

Following these steps can reduce your health

risks from eating fish containing chemical

pollutants. The rest of the brochure explains

these recommendations in more detail.

1. Call your local or state environmental health department. Contact them

before you fish to see if any advisories are

posted in areas where you want to fish.

2. Select certain kinds and sizes of fish

for eating. Younger fish contain fewer

pollutants than older, larger fish. Panfish

feed on insects and are less likely to build

up pollutants.

3. Clean and cook your fish properly.

Proper cleaning and cooking techniques may

reduce the levels of some chemical pollutants

in the fish.

This brochure may be reproduced

without EPA permission at no charge.

 Printed on recycled paper

Developed in collaboration with the Agency

for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry,

U.S. Public Health Service AGENCY FOR TOXIC SUBSTANCES

AND DISEASE REGISTRY

TSDR
CATCHING FISH

How can I find out if the waters that I

fish in are polluted?

It’s almost impossible to tell if a water body is

polluted simply by looking at it. However, there are

ways to find out.

First, look to see if warning signs are posted along

the water’s edge. If there are signs, follow the

advice printed on them.

Second, even if you don’t see warning signs, call

your local or state health or environmental protection department and ask for their advice. Ask them

if there are any advisories on the kinds or sizes of

fish that may be eaten from the waters where you

plan to fish. You can also ask about fishing

advisories at local sporting goods or bait shops

where fishing licenses are sold.

If the waterbody has

not been tested,

follow these guidelines to reduce your

health risks from

eating fish that

might contain small

amounts of chemical

pollutants.

Remember that with any fresh meat, always

follow proper food handling and storage techniques. To prevent the growth of bacteria or

viruses, keep freshly caught fish on ice and out of

direct sunlight.

COOKING FISH

Can I cook my fish to reduce my

health risk from eating fish containing

chemical pollutants?

Yes. The way you cook fish can make a difference

in the kinds and amounts of chemical pollutants

remaining in the fish. Fish should be properly

prepared and grilled, baked, or broiled. By letting

Do some fish contain more pollutants

than others?

Yes. You can’t look at fish and tell if they contain

chemical pollutants. The only way to tell if fish

contain harmful levels of chemical pollutants is to

have them tested in a laboratory. Follow these

simple guidelines to lower the risk to your family:

 If you eat gamefish, such as lake trout, salmon,

walleye, and bass, eat the smaller, younger fish

(within legal limits). They are less likely to

contain harmful levels of pollutants than larger,

older fish.

 Eat panfish, such as bluegill, perch, stream trout,

and smelt. They feed on insects and other

aquatic life and are less likely to contain high

levels of harmful pollutants.

 Eat fewer fatty fish, such as lake trout, or fish

that feed on the bottoms of lakes and streams

such as catfish and carp. These fish are more

likely to contain higher levels of chemical

pollutants.

CLEANING FISH

Can I clean my fish to reduce the

amount of chemical pollutants that

might be present?

Yes. It’s always a good idea to remove the skin, fat,

and internal organs (where harmful pollutants are

most likely to accumulate) before you cook the fish.

As an added precaution:

 Remove and throw away the head, guts,

kidneys, and the liver.

 Fillet fish and cut away the fat and

skin before you cook it.

 Clean and dress fish as soon as possible.

Health Note

Mercury is found throughout the tissue in fish, so

these cleaning and cooking techniques will not

reduce the amount of mercury in a meal of fish.

Trim away the skin and fatty tissue before cooking to

reduce the level of some pollutants in the fish you eat.

Some chemical pollutants, such as mercury and

PCBs, can pose greater risks to women of

childbearing age, pregnant women, nursing

mothers, and young children. This group should

be especially careful to greatly reduce or avoid

eating fish caught from polluted waters.

Health Note the fat drain away, you can remove pollutants

stored in the fatty parts of the fish. Added precautions include:

 Avoid or reduce the amount of fish drippings

or broth that you use to flavor the meal. These

drippings may contain higher levels of

pollutants.

 Eat less fried or deep fat-fried fish because

frying seals any chemical pollutants that might

be in the fish’s fat into the portion that you will

eat.

 If you like smoked fish, it is best to fillet the fish

and remove the skin before the fish is smoked.

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