 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) has designated the color RED to the fish with the highest levels of mercury found in their flesh. It is suggested that you avoid eating these fish at all times. These include swordfish, tilefish, shark and other top level predator fish found in the world's oceans.
Others we have designated in "Recipes for Catch and Release" as RED fish include those species found in specific Pennsylvania or New York State waters with high levels of mercury, PCBs and Chlordane. In general, a species of fish is designated as RED if it is categorized "Do Not Eat" in any of our states' waterways. We have made an exception for New York fish because all fish found in Lake Ontario or the St. Lawrence Seaway ought to be avoided due to multiple contaminants. But many species found in other New York State lakes, streams and rivers are edible, and therefore we have some listed in the orange, or limited consumption, category.
The contaminant levels vary from one species of fish to another, river to river and lake to lake. Your best protection is to be aware of the quality of the fish in the market where you shop and/or the river or stream where you fish. There are some important ways that the state advisories vary from the market-based advisory put together by PSR: For instance, catfish caught from Pool #4 of the Monongahela River have been found to have dangerous levels of PCBs in them, therefore we have designated ALL PENNSYLVANIA CATFISH as RED. Farm-raised catfish, however, is considered to be pretty safe, and there are less stringent restrictions on catfish found in some other specific waterways in Pennsylvania.
The following fish found in Pennsylvania waterways have at least one "Do Not Eat" advisory posted: American Eel, Channel Catfish, Walleye, Carp and Fresh Water Drum.
The following fish found in New York State waterways have at least one "Do Not Eat" advisory posted in addition to the blanket advisories in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River: American Eel, Channel Catfish, Walleye, Pickerel, Small and Large Mouth Bass.
For more information on the safety of the fish in your area, see the following sites: US Environmental Protection Agency, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, New York State Department of Health