Hudson Valley Region: Health Advice On Eating Fish You Catch

ADIRONDACKREGIONHealth Advice on Eating Fish You CatchIncluding Essex, Fulton, Hamilton, Lewis, Warren andparts of Clinton, Franklin, Herkimer, Saratoga,St. Lawrence, and Washington CountiesMAPSINSIDE

Why We Have AdviceFishing is fun and fish are an important part of a healthy diet. Fish containhigh quality protein, essential nutrients, healthy fish oils, and are low insaturated fat. However, some fish contain chemicals at levels that may beharmful to health. To help people make healthier choices about which fishthey eat, the New York State Department of Health issues advice about eatingsportfish (fish you catch). The health advice about which fish to eatdepends on:Where You FishThe Adirondacks are rich with rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds,and offer wonderful opportunities for fishing. However,many fish in the Adirondack Region have been affectedby a chemical called mercury. Because of this, NYSDOH issues regional advice (page 4) for all waters in theAdirondack Region to help anglers make better choicesabout which fish to eat and which fish to release. Somewaters, listed on pages 7-9, have specific advice to not eatcertain species because of elevated mercury levels.Who You AreWomen of childbearing age (under 50) and children under 15 areadvised to limit the kinds of fish they eat and how oftenthey eat them. Women who eat highly contaminatedfish and become pregnant may have an increased riskof having children who are slower to develop andlearn. Chemicals may have a greater effect on thedevelopment of young children or unborn babies. Also,some chemicals may be passed on in mother’s milk.Women beyond their childbearing years and men may facefewer health risks from some chemicals. For that reason, the advice forwomen age 50 and over and men age 15 and over allows them to eatmore kinds of sportfish and more often (see advice tables).What You Catch1Some fish in the Adirondack Region have higher levels ofmercury than others. In general, fish lower in the foodchain (like sunfish, smaller perch, and trout) tend to haveless mercury. Smaller fish within a species may also beless contaminated than larger, older fish. Choose to eatfish from the “best choice fish” category on page 4 to getthe benefits of eating fish while reducing your exposure tomercury.Chemicals in the Adirondack RegionThe primary chemical of concern in the Adirondack Region is mercury.Mercury occurs naturally, but it is also released into our environment fromsources like coal combustion. Testing of fish in the Adirondack and CatskillRegions and in some NYS reservoirs has shown certain species of fish havehigher levels of mercury than in other parts of the state.Health RisksFish can have chemical levels thousands of times more than thesurrounding water. These chemicals build up in your body over time. Healthproblems that may result from chemicals in fish range from small changes inhealth that are hard to detect to birth defects and cancer. (Visit www.health.ny.gov/fish for more info.)Methylmercury, the form of mercury that builds up in fish, can cause effectson the nervous system. Exposure to methylmercury is more of a concernfor children and unborn babies because their nervous systems are stilldeveloping. Some research on people who eat large amounts of fish hasfound that methylmercury might affect children’s memory, attention, andlanguage development.2

Tips for Healthier Eating Try to space out your fish meals. For example, if the advice is that you caneat up to four meals a month, don’t eat them all in the same week. This isparticularly important for women and young children. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites can be in or on fish. Keep harvested fish cold.Wear gloves when skinning and trimming. Wash hands and surfaces oftenwhen preparing fish, and keep raw foods separate. Cook fish and shellfishthoroughly before eating.Adirondack Regional AdvisoryNYS DOH has a issued regional advice for all waters within the Adirondack Region becausethe fish have been more affected by methyl mercury. Everyone should follow the advicebelow when fishing from Adirondack waters. Check for additional specific advisories forcertain waterbodies on pages 7-9.WalleyeMen 15 and Over &Women 50 and OverWomen Under 50 &Children Under 15Greater than 19", DON'T EAT;Less than 19", up to 1 meal/monthDON'T EATTips to Avoid Mercury The only way to reduce how much mercury you get from fish is to avoidcertain species or eat smaller fish within a species. To reduce exposures to mercury, avoid or eat less largemouth andsmallmouth bass, northern pike, pickerel, and larger walleye and larger yellowperch because these fish tend to have higher mercury levels. Mercury is distributed throughout a fish’s muscle tissue (the part you eat),rather than in the fat and skin. Trimming and skinning will not reduce theamount of mercury in a fish meal.Chain pickerelLake troutLargemouth bassRock bassNorthern pikeSmallmouth bassYellow perch greaterthan 10 inchesMen 15 and Over &Women 50 and OverWomen Under 50 &Children Under 15Up to 1 meal/monthDON'T EAT*Best Choice Fish*All other fish including:Black crappieBullheadBluegillWhite suckerPumpkinseedFreshwater drumWhite perch3Brook troutBrown troutTiger muskellungeRainbow troutMuskellungeYellow perch less than10 inchesMen 15 and Over &Women 50 and OverWomen Under 50 &Children Under 15Up to 4 meals/monthUp to 1 meal/month4

Adirondack Region Fish AdvisoriesCumberland HeadCumberlandBayStkacBlLakeSt. LawrenceCountyDavis Lake DamMeacham LakeRainbow Falls ReservoirClintonCountyStark Falls ReservoirnyLittle TupperLakeEssexCountyLake PlacidOseetah Lake/Lake FlowerTupper LakePeru Boat LaunchFranklin Falls FlowSaranac LakesCranberry LakeSalmon Riveramplainwa.LLake ChcenreerivRLowerChateaugayLakeFranklinCountyLong LakeADIRONDACKPARKSoft MapleReservoirEffley Falls PondForked LakeMoshier Reservoir Stillwater ReservoirRaquette Lake Blue Mtn LakeSunday LakeBubb LakeSagamoreFulton ChainLakeIndian LakeWaters Where AdirondackRegional Advisory Applies(follow advice on page 4)These waters are examples of where the AdirondackRegional Advice applies.Blue Mountain LakeCranberry LakeForked LakeFulton Chain of LakesGreat Sacandaga LakeIndian LakeLake GeorgeLake PlacidLittle Tupper LakeLong LakeParadox LakePiseco LakeRaquette LakeRound LakeSaranac LakesSchroon LakeStillwater ReservoirWoodhull LakeWaters with specific advisories(advice can be found on pages 7-9)ParadoxLakeSchroon LakeFall LakePiseco ngtonCountyStoner LakesGreat Sacandaga LakeFultonCountySaratogaCountyHudson RiverHudson RiverFerris LakeLakHamiltonCountyNorth LakeeorLewey LakeWoodhull LakeLewisCountygeof LakesWhat about tributaries and connected waters?The specific advice in the online county maps and theinside tables applies to tributaries and connected watersif there are no dams, falls, or barriers to stop the fishfrom moving upstream or downstream. This is becausechemicals remain in fish when they move from onewaterbody to another.If you are not sure about possible fish barriers nearwaters where you are fishing, call your DEC office listedon the back of this brochure. If you have questions aboutfish advisories for your favorite waterbody call the fishadvisory team at (518) 402-7800. Visit www.health.ny.gov/fish for the latest advice about eating your catchfor all regions in the state.6

Locations & TributariesFishAll other AdirondackAll fishRegion waters NOT listedBubb LakeEffley Falls PondFall LakeFerris LakeFranklin Falls PondHudson River, CorinthDam (Palmer FallsDam) to South GlensFalls at Route 9 BridgeHudson River,upstream from CorinthDam (Palmer FallsDam)Lake Champlain, wholelake excluding arealisted belowLake Champlain, baywithin CumberlandHead Southwest toPeru Boat Launch7Men 15 and Over &Women 50 and OverWomen Under 50 &Children Under 15Locations &TributariesFollow Adirondack Regional Advisory (pg 4)Greater than 10", DON'TEAT; Less than 10", upto 1 meal/monthYellow perchUp to 1 meal/monthAll other fishFollow Adirondack Regional AdviceChain pickerelGreater than 20", DON'TEAT; Less than 20", upto 1 meal/monthAll other fishFollow Adirondack Regional AdviceSmallmouth bassGreater than 15”, DON’TEAT; Less than 15”, upto 1 meal/monthDON'T EATYellow perchUp to 1 meal/monthGreater than 10", DON'TEAT; Less than 10", upto 1 meal/monthAll other fishFollow Adirondack Regional AdviceLake FlowerLewey LakeDON’T EATGreater than 10", DON'TEAT; Less than 10", upto 1 meal/monthLower Chateaugay LakeMeacham LakeMoshier ReservoirFishMen 15 and Over &Women 50 and OverWomen Under 50 &Children Under 15Northern pikeGreater than 26", DON'TEAT; Less than 26", upto 1 meal/monthAll other fishFollow Adirondack Regional AdviceYellow perchUp to 1 meal/monthAll other fishFollow Adirondack Regional AdviceYellow perchUp to 1 meal/monthAll other fishFollow Adirondack Regional AdviceSmallmouth bass,Yellow perchDON'T EATAll other fishFollow Adirondack Regional AdviceSmallmouth bassGreater than 15", DON'TEAT; Less than 15", upto 1 meal/monthAll other fishFollow Adirondack Regional AdviceYellow perchGreater than 10", DON’TEAT; Less than 10", upto 1 meal/monthDON'T EATGreater than 10", DON'TEAT; Less than 10", upto 1 meal/monthGreater than 10", DON'TEAT; Less than 10", upto 1 meal/monthDON'T EATDON'T EATYellow perchUp to 1 meal/monthAll other fishFollow Adirondack Regional AdviceWalleyeDON'T EATAll other fishFollow Adirondack Regional AdviceAll other fishFollow Adirondack Regional AdviceCarp, ChannelcatfishDON'T EATNorthern pikeAll other fishFollow Adirondack Regional AdviceGreater than 26", DON'TEAT; Less than 26", upto 1 meal/monthAll other fishFollow Adirondack Regional AdviceNorthern pikeGreater than 26", DON'TEAT; Less than 26", upto 1 meal/monthAll other fishFollow Adirondack Regional AdviceAll fishDON'T EATNorth Lake, Town of OhioDON'T EATOseetah LakeFollow Adirondack Regional AdviceRainbow Falls ReservoirAll fishFollow Adirondack Regional AdviceAmerican eel, YellowperchDON'T EATSalmon River,downstream of DavisLake Dam to LakeChamplainAll other fishFollow Adirondack Regional AdviceDON'T EATGreater than 10", DON'TEAT; Less than 10", upto 1 meal/monthDON'T EATDON'T EATSame advice as Lake Champlain, bay within Cumberland Head Southwestto Peru Boat Launch8

COMMON FISH OF THEADIRONDACKSLocations &TributariesSagamore LakeSoft Maple ReservoirStark Falls ReservoirStoner LakesSunday LakeTupper Lake9FishMen 15 and Over &Women 50 and OverWomen Under 50 &Children Under 15Greater than 10", DON'TEAT; Less than 10", upto 1 meal/monthYellow perchUp to 1 meal/monthAll other fishFollow Adirondack Regional AdviceSmallmouth bassGreater than 15", DON'TEAT; Less than 15", upto 1 meal/monthAll other fishFollow Adirondack Regional AdviceNorthern pikeGreater than 26", DON'TEAT; Less than 26", upto 1 meal/monthAll other fishFollow Adirondack Regional AdviceSmallmouth bassGreater than 15", DON'TEAT; Less than 15", upto 1 meal/monthAll other fishFollow Adirondack Regional AdviceChain pickerelDON'T EATAll other fishFollow Adirondack Regional AdviceSmallmouth bassGreater than 15", DON'TEAT; Less than 15", upto 1 meal/monthAll other fishFollow Adirondack Regional AdviceBlack crappieBluegill sunfishBrook troutBrown bullheadBrown troutChain pickerelFreshwater drumLake troutLargemouth bassMuskellungeNorthern pikePumpkinseed sunfishRainbow troutRedbreast sunfishRock bassSmallmouth bassTiger muskellungeWalleyeWhite perchWhite suckerYellow perchDON'T EATDON'T EATDON'T EATDON'T EATDON'T EAT10