Photo of angler holding a striped bass that he caught in the Connecticut River in Hartford, CT. Credit: USFWS

Fish Consumption Advisories

Are the fish fit to eat?

Mercury, PCBs and other contaminants found in the water sometimes accumulate in fish. There may be some risk to the health of people who eat these fish. As a result, State public health agencies issue fish consumption advisories or warnings to protect the public. You can find information on consumption advisories in the Connecticut River watershed by visiting these Web sites:

• Information on Connecticut’s Fish Consumption Advisory and the Safe Eating of Fish Caught in Connecticut
   
• Massachusetts Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment Freshwater Fish Consumption Advisory List
   
• Fish Consumption Guidelines - New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
   
• Vermont Department of Health Alert
   
• Connecticut River Bacteria Levels - Bacteria (E. coli) data for the Connecticut River from Lebanon, NH to Agawam, MA
  

Further information on environmental contaminants and fish is posted on various other Web sites:

• Monterey Bay Aquarium: Seafood Watch Program - Seafood that’s good for you and the oceans

• Environmental Defense Network Seafood Selector - A guide to choosing healthy fish for the dinner table

• USFWS Current Issues Page - Low levels of PCBs and dioxins found in Northeast federal hatchery fish

• Contaminant Loads in Broodstock Fish in the Region 5 National Fish Hatchery System

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - National Fish Consumption Advisories

What About Eating Raw or Undercooked Fish and Parasites?