Two new advisories and five updates follow recent fish tissue sampling
The Louisiana Departments of Health (LDH), Environmental Quality (LDEQ) and Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) have issued fish consumption advisories for seven Louisiana waterways after recent fish tissue sampling detected mercury at levels that warranted new or updated recommendations.
The advisories include two new warnings and updates to five existing advisories. Louisiana currently has 52 fish consumption advisories for mercury in freshwater areas, as well as an advisory for certain offshore species in the Gulf.
LDEQ conducts fish tissue sampling for mercury and other contaminants. LDH uses those data, in consultation with LDEQ and LDWF, to determine when a new fish consumption advisory is needed or an existing advisory should be updated. Each advisory identifies the affected waterway, fish species and recommended consumption limits.
The new and updated advisories include:
Mermentau River and Lake Arthur — new advisory
Vermillion River and Bayou Tortue — new advisory
Bayou De Loutre and associate lakes — updated advisory
Boeuf River — updated advisory
Lake Bistineau — updated advisory
Pearl River — updated advisory
Tew Lake — updated advisory
Why mercury in fish matters
Mercury occurs naturally in the environment and can also be released through human activity. Under certain environmental conditions, mercury can enter the aquatic food chain and build up in fish over time. Larger predator fish generally accumulate more mercury than smaller fish.
Eating fish containing high levels of mercury over a long period of time can cause mercury to build up in the body and affect the brain and nervous system. Developing fetuses and children under age 7 are particularly sensitive because their nervous systems are still developing.
People who should pay particular attention to fish consumption advisories include pregnant women, women who may become pregnant, women who are breastfeeding, children under age 7 and people who regularly eat fish caught from waters under a mercury advisory.
How to safely enjoy Louisiana fish
Fish can be an important source of protein, and a fish consumption advisory does not necessarily mean people should stop eating fish. Residents should read the advisory for the waterway where their fish was caught and follow its recommendations about which species to limit or avoid.
Mercury cannot be removed from fish through cleaning or cooking. Choosing smaller fish, varying where locally caught fish come from and following the recommended consumption limits can help reduce exposure.
Current Louisiana fish consumption advisories are available at LDH’s Eat Safe Fish website or by calling 1-888-293-7020. Advisories may also be posted at public boat launches.
Additional information about Louisiana’s Mercury Monitoring Program is available on the Department of Environmental Quality’s Fish Consumption, Swimming, and Sediment Advisories website. Each of these websites offer the public a mapping application for locating waterways under advisories.
For information about the fish you buy in a store or restaurant, contact the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at (800) SAFEFOOD or https://www.fda.gov/food/consumers/advice-about-eating-fish.