West Virginia DHHR Releases Sport Fish Advisory

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services has released the 2010 sport fish consumption advisory. This is an annual report by the DHHR providing information that allows consumers to make decisions about consuming fish in the state. It is not, as some people believe, a regulation or law, and it is not a finding that the streams are impaired. The advisory is based on a relatively limited data set, and for that reason the recommendations are conservative, erring on the side of caution.

The following is taken from the DHHR website, and explains more about the advisory and offers a link to the US FDA advisories:

Certain West Virginia sport fish have been found to have low levels of chemicals like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury, selenium and dioxin. To protect the good health of West Virginians, the West Virginia DHHR offers an advisory for how often these fish can be safely eaten. An advisory is advice, and should not be viewed as law or regulation. It is intended to help anglers and their families make educated choices about: 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.

This advisory covers only sport fish caught in West Virginia waters. Safety regulations and advisories for fish in the market place are the responsibility of the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For more information you can contact the FDA at: http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm110591.htm