For immediate release
March 15, 2002

Agencies Issue Annual Advisory on Fish Consumption

COLUMBUS -- As Ohio anglers begin thinking about the upcoming fishing season, three state agencies are teaming up to give them the latest health information on eating the sport fish they catch.

"Hundreds of thousands of Ohioans will soon take to our lakes and rivers, rod and reel in hand," said J. Nick Baird, M.D., director of the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). "We want them to have the most current health information about their catch."

ODH, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) have again joined efforts to publish this year's advisory which, in addition to fish samples, includes the results of tissue sampling snapping turtles from selected bodies of water in the Lake Erie watershed. The muscled turtle meat sampled as part of a one-time OEPA grant project showed low levels of methyl mercury and lead.

"We are pleased to participate in this important sport fish testing and advisory program," said ODNR Director Sam Speck. "We want to ensure that Ohio's anglers make well-informed decisions about the types and quantities of fish they pursue and consume."

The advisory is targeted at those groups most sensitive to low levels of contamination: women of childbearing age and children under the age of 6. These groups should limit the amount of Ohio fish they consume to no more than one meal a week because of possible mercury contamination.

"Overall, eating fish regularly offers several health benefits," Baird said. "By choosing safer places to fish, picking safer species to eat, trimming and cooking your catch correctly and following the recommended meal frequency, Ohio anglers will gain the positive health benefits of consuming fish and reduce exposure to possible contaminants."

As part of the snapping turtle advisory, two bodies of water (Lake Rockwell and the Ottawa River) were cleared for unlimited turtle meat consumption. Turtle meat from three rivers (the Ashtabula River, Black River and the Maumee River) and the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, should only be consumed once a week.

Smaller fish within a species tend to have fewer contaminants than older, larger fish and are sometimes tastier and more tender. Also, fish that are higher in fat (channel catfish and carp, for example) may have higher levels of contaminants since fat tissue tends to retain more of these substances.

The revised advisory for Lake Erie, Ohio's most popular fishing destination, shows only one small change from last year. Lake Erie walleye longer than 25 inches long should only be consumed once a month. Lake Erie walleye under 25 inches can still be eaten once a week, the same as last year.

New or Revised Advisories

Following are five other new or revised advisories for the 2002 Ohio fishing season:

• Black River, East Branch: Rock bass, smallmouth bass and yellow bullhead should only be eaten once a month.
• Portage River, North Branch: Common carp should only be eaten once every two months.
• Rocky River, West Branch: Rock bass and smallmouth bass should be eaten only once a month.
• Tiffin River: Northern Pike should be eaten only once a month.
• Auglaize River: Smallmouth bass and freshwater drum should only be consumed once a month.

Copies of the 2002 Ohio Fish Consumption Advisory are available at the ODH web site at www.odh.state.oh.us/alerts/fishadv/htm. Anyone without access to a computer may obtain a copy of the advisory by calling the Ohio Department of Health at 1-800-755-4769.

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Media contact: Ohio Department of Health, Office of Public Affairs: 614-644-8562.