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West Virginia Fish Consumption Updated

By Staff | Dec 30, 2009

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources has updated the West Virginia Sport Fish Consumption Advisory for 2010. DHHR partners with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources to develop consumption advisories for fish caught in West Virginia.

Fish consumption advisories are updated each year to help West Virginia anglers and their families make educated choices about eating the fish they catch.

The 2010 advisory is the result of reviewing recent fish tissue data and re-analysis of historical data. Improved data analysis methodology to isolate fish from specific water known to have higher concentrations of contaminants have resulted in less restrictive statewide advisories in some species and additional stricter advisories for specific waters.

The only change to the current advisory is as follows: The advisory limiting consumption of channel catfish, all sizes, caught from the Monongahela River has been removed.

The 2010 statewide consumption advisory for Channel Catfish should be followed.

The 2010 advisories can be reviewed at www.wvdhhr.org/fish, obtained from DHHR or found in the 2010 DNR fishing regulations.

Low levels of chemicals like PCBs, mercury, selenium, and dioxin have been found in some fish from certain waters.

An advisory is advice and should not be viewed as law or regulation.

It is intended to help anglers and their families decide where to fish, what types of fish to eat, how to limit the amount and frequency of fish eaten, and how to prepare and cook fish to reduce contaminants.

Women of childbearing age, children, and people who regularly eat fish are particularly susceptible to contaminants that build up over time.

Individuals falling into one of these categories should be especially careful to follow the guidelines.

This advisory covers only sport fish caught in West Virginia waters. Safety regulations and advisories for fish in the marketplace are the responsibility of the United States Food and Drug Administration.