Fish: Health Advice on Eating Fish You Catch
What's New This Year?
- There is a new look for the statewide booklet as well as regional brochures. Look for the icon of women and children as an easy way to pull out the special advice.
- Six new waterbody advisories were added in the Adirondack Region. Four are in Hamilton County - Brown Tract Ponds, Fall Lake, Lewey Lake and Limekiln Lake (which also extends to Herkimer County). Hinckley Reservoir was added in Herkimer County. Stark Falls Reservoir was added in St. Lawrence County.
- Based on declining PCB levels, advice on eating brown bullhead from Lake Champlain's Cumberland Bay has been relaxed from "don't eat" to "eat up to one meal per month" for women over 50 and men. PCB levels in Cumberland Bay fish have dropped since contaminated sediments were removed in 1999, and other Cumberland Bay advisories may be relaxed in the future.
- New fish species were added or other changes were made to existing advisories for Massapequa Reservoir in Nassau County, Big Moose Lake and Sunday Lake in Herkimer County, Ferris Lake in Hamilton County, and Union Falls Pond in Clinton and Franklin Counties.
- There is expanded availability of regional brochures. This year, look for user-friendly versions of the Adirondack, Catskill, New York City, Western, and Hudson River regions of New York State.
Contents
- Background
Find out about why we have fish advisories, health risks from fish contaminants, ways to reduce exposure to fish contaminants and links for more information.
- Tips for Healthier Eating
Learn how to prepare and cook fish to reduce your exposure to chemicals.
- Advice by Region
Access fish advice and other information by region or by waterbody.
- Freshwater Fish Gallery
Learn to identify New York State's freshwater fish. Visit the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation website.
- Additional Information & Advice
Read about our procedures for setting advisories, information, specific contaminants in fish, good sanitary practices and other health issues associated with fish.
- Advice on Eating Game
Brush up on our advice about eating game including contaminants in game, lead shot and bullets, good sanitary practices and other health issues associated with wild game.
- Publications
Order and download fish advisory brochures and materials.
- Programs
Find out about our regional fish advisory partners and programs.
- Contacts
Have a question? Find out where to get local and statewide fish advisory information.
