Fish Consumption Advisories

• NC Department of Cultural Resources: North Carolina Geography in a 

Snap: Bodies of Water

• NC Department of Cultural Resources: Rivers

Statewide Advisories

Current Advisories for N.C.

Fish consumption advisories are issued by the Occupational and 

Environmental Epidemiology Branch, N.C. Division of Public Health. Learn 

more about this OEE program. Find current fish advisories for the state of 

North Carolina and for specific bodies of water in North Carolina. You may 

also use the Reports by County index to browse all available OEE reports, 

including fish advisories, hazardous site assessments, and community health 

studies. 

Learn more about lakes and rivers in North Carolina: 

Pollutant: Mercury

Date Issued/Updated: April 2, 2008

Advisory:

Women of Childbearing Age (15-44 years), Pregnant Women, Nursing 

Women, and Children under 15:

Do not eat fish high in mercury, including largemouth bass caught in the 

state. Eat up to two meals per week of fish low in mercury. A meal is 6 

ounces of uncooked fish for adults, or 2 ounces of uncooked fish for children 

under 15.

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Site-Specific Advisories by Body of Water

• A

• B

• C

• D

• F

• G

• H

• L

• M

• N

• P

• R

• S

• W

• Y

• Albemarle Sound

All Other Individuals:

Eat no more than one meal per week of fish high in mercury, including 

largemouth bass caught in the state. Eat up to four meals per week of fish low 

in mercury. A meal is 6 ounces of uncooked fish for adults, or 2 ounces of 

uncooked fish for children under 15.

Affected Fish: Fish high in mercury

Learn more about mercury in fish.

A

Affected Counties: Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Pasquotank, 

Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington

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• Badin Lake

Site: Albemarle Sound from Bull Bay to Harvey Point; West to the 

mouth of the Roanoke River and to the mouth of the Chowan River to 

the U.S. Highway 17 Bridge

Pollutant: Dioxins

Date Issued: October 2001

Advisory: Catfish and carp from these waters may contain low levels of 

dioxins. Women of childbearing age and children should not eat any 

catfish or carp from this area until further notice. All other persons 

should eat no more than one meal per month of catfish and carp from this 

area. Swimming, boating, and other recreational activities present no 

known significant health risks and are not affected by this advisory.

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B

Affected Counties: Montgomery, Stanly

Pollutants: Mercury, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Date Issued: February 11, 2009

Advisory: Elevated levels of chemicals called PCBs, along with 

mercury, may be found in catfish and largemouth bass in these waters. 

Pregnant women, women who may become pregnant, and children under 

15 should avoid eating catfish and largemouth bass from this lake due to 

high levels of mercury as well as PCBs. Other people should eat no more 

than one meal per week of catfish and largemouth bass from this lake. 

See the related public health consultation and fish tissue study.

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• Brier Creek

• Brier Creek, Little (See Little Brier Creek)

• Chatuge Lake

Please also see the statewide mercury advisory. 

Affected Counties: Wake

Site: Downstream of Brier Creek Reservoir; See also Lake Crabtree and 

Little Brier Creek

Pollutant: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Date Issued: May 7, 2004

Advisory: Do not eat any fish from Brier Creek. High levels of PCBs 

have been found in the fish. Swimming, boating, and other recreational 

activities present no known significant health risks from PCBs and are 

not affected by this advisory. PCB-related risks, if any, from these 

activities have been shown to be negligible. If future testing reveals new 

information, then new advice will be given and new signs will be issued. 

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C

Affected Counties: Clay

Pollutant: Mercury

Date Issued: December 14, 2012

Advisory: Elevated levels of mercury may be found in white bass or 

largemouth bass caught in Lake Chatuge. Women of childbearing age 

(15-44 years) and children under 15 should not eat any white bass or 

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• Crabtree Creek

• Crabtree, Lake (See Lake Crabtree)

• Dan River

largemouth bass caught in Lake Chatuge. All other persons should eat no 

more than one meal (6 ounces) per week of white bass or largemouth 

bass caught in the lake. Swimming, boating, other recreational activities, 

and handling the fish present no known significant health risks and are 

not affected by this advisory. State health officials are unable to 

positively identify the original sources of the contamination, but have 

determined that airborne sources such as wind-blown dust are the most 

likely source.

Please also see the statewide mercury advisory. 

Affected Counties: Wake

Site: Above Lake Crabtree and below Lake Crabtree to where it enters 

the Neuse River

Pollutant: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Date Issued: March 31, 2006

Advisory: Limit consumption of carp, catfish, and largemouth bass from 

Crabtree Creek to no more than one meal per month. High levels of 

PCBs have been found in carp, catfish, and largemouth bass from these 

waters. 

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D

Affected Counties: Caswell, Rockingham

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• Falls Reservoir

Site: Dan River in North Carolina downstream of the Duke Energy – 

Dan River Steam Station spill site

Pollutant: Coal ash

Date Revised: February 27, 2015

Fish and Shellfish Consumption: On February 2, 2014, there was a 

release of coal ash to the Dan River from a waste ash pond on the Duke 

Energy - Dan River Steam Station near Eden, North Carolina. As a 

result, we recommend that people do not eat any fish or shellfish from 

the Dan River downstream of the spill in North Carolina’s Rockingham 

and Caswell counties. We do not yet have the information needed to 

determine if eating fish or shellfish presents a health hazard or not. We 

are working with other agencies to collect fish downstream of the spill. 

We are evaluating the data from fish sampling as it becomes available to 

identify when eating the fish is no longer a concern.

Recreational Water Use: Contaminant levels related to the coal ash 

spill should not present a health risk during recreational use of the river. 

The most recent surface water and sediment data indicate that no health 

hazards are expected while boating or swimming. As an added 

precaution, if you come in contact with what appears to be coal ash, 

wash your skin off with soap and water. 

See also Dan River Coal Ash Spill (Duke Energy – Dan River Steam 

Station Site)

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F

Affected Counties: Montgomery, Stanly

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• Fontana Lake

Site: See also Yadkin-Pee Dee River System

Pollutant: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Date Issued: March 13, 2013

Advisory: Levels of chemicals called PCBs were found above the state 

action level (0.05 mg/kg) in catfish species larger than 18 inches (450 

mm) in Falls Reservoir. Prior studies of catfish in the state's lakes and 

rivers have identified elevated levels of mercury south and east of U.S. 

Highway I-85. The recommended number of meals for catfish as a 

result of the mercury advisory is also protective of potential health 

effects associated with eating catfish contaminated with PCBs in this 

lake. The recommended mercury advisory for catfish in this area is: 

Pregnant women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, 

and children under age 15 should not eat any catfish from this lake. 

Other people should not eat more than one meal a week. A meal of fish is 

approximately six (6) ounces of uncooked fish.

See the related public health risk assessment of fish and sediment.

Please also see the statewide mercury advisory. 

Affected Counties: Graham and Swain

Site: See also Santeetlah Lake (Graham County)

Pollutant: Mercury

Date Issued: September 10, 2008

Advisory: Pregnant women, women who may become pregnant, and 

children under 15 should avoid eating walleye from Santeetlah and 

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• Gaston, Lake (See Lake Gaston) 

• Glenville Reservoir

Fontana lakes due to high levels of mercury. Other people should limit 

their consumption of those fish to no more than one meal per week. 

Please also see the statewide mercury advisory. 

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G

Affected Counties: Jackson

Pollutant: Mercury

Date Issued: December 9, 2014

Advisory: Testing detected elevated levels of mercury in walleye in the 

Glenville Reservoir exceeding the N.C. Division of Public Health’s 

action level for mercury of 0.4 mg/kg. Previous studies have shown that 

largemouth bass in all waters of North Carolina have elevated levels of 

mercury. The N.C. Division of Public Health recommends that pregnant 

women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and 

children under age 15 should not eat any walleye and largemouth bass 

from Glenville Reservoir. Other individuals should not eat more than one 

meal per month of walleye and one meal per week of largemouth bass 

from Glenville Reservoir. A meal of fish is approximately 6 ounces prior 

to cooking. 

Recreational Water Use: The elevated levels of mercury in walleye and 

largemouth bass does not present a known health risk for people 

engaging in recreational activities such as touching the water, wading, 

swimming, boating, or handling the fish.

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• High Rock Lake

Please also see the statewide mercury advisory. 

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H

Affected Counties: Davidson, Rowan

Site: See also Yadkin-Pee Dee River System

Pollutant: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Date Issued: March 13, 2013

Advisory: Levels of chemicals called PCBs were found above the state 

action level (0.05 mg/kg) in catfish species larger than 18 inches (450 

mm) in High Rock Lake. Prior studies of catfish in the state's lakes and 

rivers have identified elevated levels of mercury south and east of U.S. 

Highway I-85. The recommended number of meals for catfish as a 

result of the mercury advisory is also protective of potential health 

effects associated with eating catfish contaminated with PCBs in this 

lake. The recommended mercury advisory for catfish in this area is: 

Pregnant women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, 

and children under age 15 should not eat any catfish from this lake. 

Other people should not eat more than one meal a week. A meal of fish is 

approximately six (6) ounces of uncooked fish. 

See the related public health risk assessment of fish and sediment.

Please also see the statewide mercury advisory. 

Back to top

L

NC DPH: Occupational & Environmental Epidemiology: Current N.C. Fish Consumption... Page 9 of 19

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• Lake Chatuge (See Chatuge Lake)

• Lake Crabtree

• Lake Fontana (See Fontana Lake) 

• Lake Gaston

Affected Counties: Wake

Site: See also Brier Creek and Little Brier Creek

Pollutant: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Date Issued: May 7, 2004

Advisory: Do not eat carp or catfish from Lake Crabtree. High levels of 

PCBs have been found in these fish. Limit consumption of all other fish 

from Lake Crabtree to no more than one meal per month. When in doubt 

about the fish species, do not eat any of the fish. Swimming, boating, and 

other recreational activities present no known significant health risks 

from PCBs and are not affected by this advisory. PCB-related risks, if 

any, from these activities have been shown to be negligible. If future 

testing reveals new information, then new advice will be given and new 

signs will be issued. 

Affected Counties: Halifax, Northampton and Warren

Pollutant: Mercury

Date Issued: November 18, 2009

Advisory: Elevated levels of mercury may be found in walleye and 

largemouth bass in these waters. Pregnant women, women who may 

become pregnant, and children under 15 should avoid eating walleye and 

largemouth bass from this lake due to high levels of mercury. Other 

people should eat no more than one to two meals per month of walleye 

or largemouth bass from this lake. 

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• Lake Nantahala (See Nantahala Lake) 

• Lake Norman

• Lake Santeetlah (See Santeetlah Lake) 

• Lake Tillery

Please also see the statewide mercury advisory. 

Affected Counties: Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln and Mecklenburg

Pollutants: Mercury, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Date Issued: April 9, 2013

Advisory: Levels of PCBs have been found in striped bass in Lake 

Norman that exceed the state action level for PCBs of 0.05 mg/kg. 

Because previous studies have shown that largemouth bass in all waters 

of North Carolina have elevated levels of mercury, this advisory for Lake 

Norman includes largemouth bass as well as striped bass. Pregnant 

women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and 

children under age 15 should not eat any striped bass or largemouth bass 

from Lake Norman. To guard against mercury exposure and potential 

PCB exposure, other people should not eat more than two meals a month 

of largemouth bass and one meal a week of striped bass from Lake 

Norman. A meal of fish is considered approximately six (6) ounces of 

uncooked fish.

Please also see the statewide mercury advisory.

Affected Counties: Montgomery, Stanly

Site: See also Yadkin-Pee Dee River System

Pollutant: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Date Issued: March 13, 2013

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• Lake Wylie

• Little Brier Creek

Advisory: Levels of chemicals called PCBs were found above the state 

action level (0.05 mg/kg) in catfish species larger than 18 inches (450 

mm) in Lake Tillery. Prior studies of catfish in the state's lakes and 

rivers have identified elevated levels of mercury south and east of U.S. 

Highway I-85. The recommended number of meals for catfish as a 

result of the mercury advisory is also protective of potential health 

effects associated with eating catfish contaminated with PCBs in this 

lake. The recommended mercury advisory for catfish in this area is: 

Pregnant women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, 

and children under age 15 should not eat any catfish from this lake. 

Other people should not eat more than one meal a week. A meal of fish is 

approximately six (6) ounces of uncooked fish.

See the related public health risk assessment of fish and sediment.

Please also see the statewide mercury advisory. 

Affected Counties: Gaston and Mecklenburg

Pollutants: Mercury, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Date Issued: December 23, 2011

Advisory: Elevated levels of PCBs have been found in largemouth bass 

in Lake Wylie. In addition, previous studies have shown that largemouth 

bass in all waters of North Carolina have elevated levels of mercury. 

Pregnant women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, 

and children under age 15 should not eat any largemouth bass. To guard 

against mercury and PCB exposure, other people should not eat more 

than two meals a month of largemouth bass from this lake. 

Please also see the statewide mercury advisory.

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• Mountain Island Lake

Affected Counties: Wake

Site: Downstream of Brier Creek Parkway. Includes tributaries to Little 

Brier Creek and Brier Creek Reservoir; See also Brier Creek and Lake 

Crabtree

Pollutant: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Date Issued: December 8, 2003

Advisory: Do not eat fish from Little Brier Creek (downstream of Brier 

Creek Parkway), its tributaries, and Brier Creek Reservoir. Fish from 

these waters are not safe to eat. High levels of PCBs have been found in 

the fish. 

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M

Affected Counties: Gaston, Mecklenburg 

Pollutant: Mercury, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Date Issued: April 25, 2013

Advisory: Update to the advisory issued January 6, 2011. Testing has 

shown levels of PCBs in blue catfish and channel catfish in Mountain 

Island Lake exceeding the state action level for PCBs of 0.05 mg/kg. 

Previous studies have shown that largemouth bass in all waters of North 

Carolina have elevated levels of mercury. DHHS recommends that no 

one eat channel catfish from Mountain Island Lake. In addition, public 

health officials recommend that pregnant women, nursing women, 

women who may become pregnant, and children under age 15 should not 

eat any largemouth bass or blue catfish from Mountain Island Lake. 

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• Nantahala Lake

Other people should not eat more than two meals a month of largemouth 

bass and one meal a month of blue catfish from this lake. A meal of fish 

is approximately six (6) ounces of uncooked fish. The PCB and mercury 

contamination does not present a known health risk for persons engaging 

in other recreational activites such as touching the water, wading, 

swimming, boating or handling the fish.

Please also see the statewide mercury advisory. 

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N

Affected Counties: Macon

Pollutant: Mercury

Date Issued: December 14, 2012

Advisory: Smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch and largemouth bass 

caught in the lake may contain elevated levels of mercury. Women of 

childbearing age (15-44 years) and children under 15 should not eat any 

smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch or largemouth bass caught in 

Nantahala Lake. All other persons should eat no more than one meal (6 

ounces) per week of smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch or 

largemouth bass caught in Nantahala Lake. Swimming, boating, other 

recreational activities, and handling the fish present no known significant 

health risks and are not affected by this advisory. State health officials 

are unable to positively identify the original sources of the 

contamination, but have determined that airborne sources such as windblown dust are the most likely source.

Please also see the statewide mercury advisory. 

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• Neuse River

• Pee Dee River (See Yadkin-Pee Dee River System)

• Roanoke River

Affected Counties: Wake

Site: Just below Crabtree Creek to Auburn-Knightdale Road

Pollutant: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Date Issued: April 2, 2008

Advisory: Limit consumption of carp and catfish to no more than one 

meal per month. High levels of PCBs may be found in carp and catfish 

from these waters.

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P

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R

Affected Counties: Bertie, Martin and Washington

Site: From the U. S. Hwy 17 bridge near Williamston to mouth of 

Albemarle Sound

Pollutant: Dioxins

Date Issued: October 2001

Advisory: Catfish and carp from these waters may contain low levels of 

dioxins. Women of childbearing age and children should not eat any 

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• Rocky Branch

• Santeetlah Lake

catfish or carp from this area until further notice. All other persons 

should eat no more than one meal per month of catfish and carp from this 

area. Swimming, boating, and other recreational activities present no 

known significant health risks and are not affected by this advisory. 

Affected Counties: Wake

Site: Just upstream of the Neuse River; See also Walnut Creek

Pollutant: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Date Issued: April 2, 2008

Advisory: Limit consumption of carp and catfish to no more than one 

meal per month and limit consumption of all other fish to no more than 

one meal per week from these waters. High levels of PCBs may be found 

in these fish.

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S

Affected Counties: Graham

Site: See also Fontana Lake (Graham and Swain Counties)

Pollutant: Mercury

Date Issued: September 10, 2008

Advisory: Pregnant women, women who may become pregnant, and 

children under 15 should avoid eating walleye from Santeetlah and 

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• Walnut Creek

• Welch Creek

Fontana lakes due to high levels of mercury. Other people should limit 

their consumption of those fish to no more than one meal per week. 

Please also see the statewide mercury advisory. 

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W

Affected Counties: Wake

Site: Just upstream of the Neuse River; See also Rocky Branch

Pollutant: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Date Issued: April 2, 2008

Advisory: Limit consumption of carp and catfish to no more than one 

meal per month and limit consumption of all other fish to no more than 

one meal per week from these waters. High levels of PCBs may be found 

in these fish. 

Affected Counties: Beaufort, Martin, and Washington

Site: The entire creek in Beaufort, Martin, and Washington counties

Pollutant: Dioxins

Date Issued: October 2001

Advisory: Catfish and carp from these waters may contain low levels of 

dioxins. Women of childbearing age and children should not eat any 

catfish or carp from this area until further notice. All other persons 

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• Wylie, Lake (See Lake Wylie)

• Yadkin-Pee Dee River System

should eat no more than one meal per month of catfish and carp from this 

area. Swimming, boating, and other recreational activities present no 

known significant health risks and are not affected by this advisory. 

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Y

Affected Counties: Davidson, Montgomery, Rowan, Stanly

Site: See also Falls Reservoir, High Rock Lake, Lake Tillery

Pollutant: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Date Issued: March 13, 2013

Advisory: Levels of chemicals called PCBs were found above the state 

action level (0.05 mg/kg) in catfish species larger than 18 inches (450 

mm) in the Yadkin-Pee Dee River System. Prior studies of catfish in the 

state's lakes and rivers have identified elevated levels of mercury south 

and east of U.S. Highway I-85. The recommended number of meals for 

catfish as a result of the mercury advisory is also protective of potential 

health effects associated with eating catfish contaminated with PCBs in 

this lake. The recommended mercury advisory for catfish in this area is: 

Pregnant women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, 

and children under age 15 should not eat any catfish from this lake. 

Other people should not eat more than one meal a week. A meal of fish is 

approximately six (6) ounces of uncooked fish.

See the related public health risk assessment of fish and sediment.

Please also see the statewide mercury advisory. 

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