National Park Service Public Health Program - Fish Advisory for Mercury Page

Fish are an important part of a healthy diet and also a good source of protein. However, some fish are caught in water bodies including lakes, rivers, coastal waters, canals, and reservoirs that contain toxic chemicals. Because there are risks associated with eating contaminated fish, state, tribal, and local governments attempt to protect the public by monitoring their waters and issuing fish advisories. Fish advisories inform people about the potential human health risks from consuming fish caught in contaminated water bodies. Some advisories indicate that people should restrict consumption of fish, while other advisories inform people that certain fish from specific water bodies are safe to eat.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Listing of Fish Advisories contains more than 3,800 State-originated advisories in effect in 48 states, the District of Columbia, two of the four territories, and five Indian tribes. States issue advisories for specific waters for their jurisdictions. In 2004, the EPA and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued joint, nationwide advice regarding mercury and fish. In 2004, the American Medical Association adopted a policy that includes recommendations that vulnerable populations follow federal, state, and local advisories on fish consumption and that physicians apprise their patients about fish consumption advisories.

DOI and Bureau Fish Policies

DOI Departmental Manual 515 DM5 - Communication of Fish and Shellfish Consumption Advisories

Trainings and Conferences

EPA's National Forum on Fish Contaminants: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/forum/

Resources

DOI Fish Advisory Liaison Contact List

EPA’s National Listing of Fish Advisories: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/advisories/

FDA and EPA’s Joint Advisory Statement to Vulnerable Populations: http://www.epa.gov/fishadvisories/advice/

EPA brochures, translated in various language: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/publicinfo.html

EPA Advisory Newsletter: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/advisories/news/

USGS Mercury Factsheet: http://www.usgs.gov/themes/factsheet/146-00/#risk

Federal Agencies and DOI Bureaus Working on Fish Advisories and Contaminant Issues

EPA Water Science: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/health/

FDA Center for Food Science & Applied Nutrition: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/

Fish and Wildlife Service: http://www.fws.gov/contaminants/

US Geological Survey: http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/index.html