New York City Region Fish Advisories

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New York City Region Advice - Upper Bay, Rivers, and Kills

Mapicon
Waterbody 1 (County)
fish icon
Fish
men & older women icon
General Population
Women and Kids icon
Sensitive Population
Chemical of Concern icon
Chemicals of Concern

East River to Throgs Neck Bridge2,3
(Queens, New York, Kings, Bronx)

Harlem River2,3
(New York, Bronx)

Hudson River2,3
(New York, Bronx)

Upper New York Bay, north of Verrazano Narrows Bridge2,3
(Kings, New York, Richmond)

Crab or lobster tomalley and cooking liquid 2 DON'T EAT DON'T EAT PCBs, Dioxin, Cadmium, PFAS
American eel5, Channel catfish, Gizzard shad, White catfish DON'T EAT DON'T EAT PCBs
Blue crab meat Up to 4 meals/month (six crabs per meal) DON'T EAT PCBs, Cadmium
Atlantic needlefish, Bluefish, Carp, Goldfish, Rainbow smelt, Striped bass, White perch Up to 1 meal/month DON'T EAT PCBs
All other fish Up to 4 meals/month DON'T EAT PCBs

Raritan Bay, west of Wolfe's Pond Park2,3
(Richmond)

Crab or lobster tomalley and cooking liquid 2 DON'T EAT DON'T EAT PCBs, Dioxin, Cadmium, PFAS
Blue crab meat Up to 4 meals/month (six crabs per meal) DON'T EAT PCBs, Dioxin, Cadmium
Atlantic needlefish, Bluefish, Rainbow smelt, Striped bass Up to 1 meal/month DON'T EAT PCBs, Dioxin
American eel, Gizzard shad, White perch DON'T EAT DON'T EAT PCBs, Dioxin
All other fish Up to 4 meals/month DON'T EAT PCBs, Dioxin

Arthur Kill2,3
(Richmond)

Kill Van Kull2,3
(Richmond)

Newark Bay2,3
(Richmond)

Crab or lobster tomalley and cooking liquid 2 DON'T EAT DON'T EAT PCBs, Dioxin, Cadmium, PFAS
Blue crab meat Up to 4 meals/month (six crabs per meal) DON'T EAT PCBs, Dioxin, Cadmium
Atlantic needlefish, Bluefish, Rainbow smelt Up to 1 meal/month DON'T EAT PCBs, Dioxin
American eel, Gizzard shad, Striped bass, White perch DON'T EAT DON'T EAT PCBs, Dioxin
All other fish Up to 4 meals/month DON'T EAT PCBs, Dioxin

The sensitive population refers to people who may bear children under the age of 50 and children under 15. The general population refers to everyone else.

1  The specific health advisories for the waters listed above also apply to tributaries (for example, Gowanus Canal and Newtown Creek) and connected waters if there are no dams, falls, or barriers to stop the fish from moving upstream.

2  DON'T EAT the soft "green stuff" (mustard, tomalley, liver, or hepatopancreas) found in the body section of crabs and lobsters from any waters because cadmium, PCBs, and other contaminants concentrate there. As contaminants are transferred to cooking liquid, you should also discard crab or lobster cooking liquid.

3  Check the NYS DEC website for updated marine regulations and special restrictions for certain species. Please note that all fresh water bodies in New York City parks are catch and release only and are not regularly monitored for contaminants. For more information visit: NYC regulations.

4  The advice for Paerdegat Basin was issued in response to a spill that led to discharges of PCB- containing material into the Basin. An environmental investigation is underway to determine if there is residual contamination in the Basin. Please check www.health.ny.gov/fish to see whether this advice is still in effect. The public is also reminded that all New York City waters are closed to shellfishing (harvesting of clams, mussels, oysters or scallops).

5  No eels may be possessed for food in the East, Harlem, and tidal Hudson Rivers. Visit the NYS DEC Marine Regulations website for updated regulations and special restrictions for certain species.

New York City Region Advice - Lower Bay, Sound, and Ocean

Mapicon
Waterbody 1 (County)
fish icon
Fish
men & older women icon
General Population
Women and Kids icon
Sensitive Population
Chemical of Concern icon
Chemicals of Concern

Atlantic Ocean2,3
(Nassau, Queens, Suffolk)

Jamaica Bay, excluding Paerdegat Basin2,3
(Nassau, Queens, Kings)

Long Island Sound2,3
(Nassau, Westchester, Queens, Suffolk, Bronx)

Lower New York Bay, south of Verrazano Narrows Bridge2,3
(Kings, Richmond)

Raritan Bay, east of Wolfe's Pond Park2,3
(Richmond)

Weakfish Greater than 25", up to 1 meal/month; Less than 25", up to 4 meals/month Greater than 25", DON'T EAT; Less than 25", up to 1 meal/month PCBs
Crab or lobster tomalley and cooking liquid 2 DON'T EAT DON'T EAT PCBs, Dioxin, Cadmium, PFAS
American eel, Bluefish, Striped bass Up to 4 meals/month Up to 1 meal/month PCBs
All other fish and crabs Follow the FDA guidelines.
Paerdegat Basin (and 200 yards from its mouth) in Jamaica Bay2,3,4
(Kings)
All fish, All crabs DON'T EAT DON'T EAT PCBs

The sensitive population refers to people who may bear children under the age of 50 and children under 15. The general population refers to everyone else.

1  The specific health advisories for the waters listed above also apply to tributaries (for example, Gowanus Canal and Newtown Creek) and connected waters if there are no dams, falls, or barriers to stop the fish from moving upstream.

2  DON'T EAT the soft "green stuff" (mustard, tomalley, liver, or hepatopancreas) found in the body section of crabs and lobsters from any waters because cadmium, PCBs, and other contaminants concentrate there. As contaminants are transferred to cooking liquid, you should also discard crab or lobster cooking liquid.

3  Check the NYS DEC website for updated marine regulations and special restrictions for certain species. Please note that all fresh water bodies in New York City parks are catch and release only and are not regularly monitored for contaminants. For more information visit: NYC regulations.

4  The advice for Paerdegat Basin was issued in response to a spill that led to discharges of PCB- containing material into the Basin. An environmental investigation is underway to determine if there is residual contamination in the Basin. Please check www.health.ny.gov/fish to see whether this advice is still in effect. The public is also reminded that all New York City waters are closed to shellfishing (harvesting of clams, mussels, oysters or scallops).

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