Idaho Issues Statewide Fish Advisory for Bass

Idaho health officials are advising women of childbearing age, women who are pregnant or nursing and children 15 years of age and younger to limit their consumption of bass caught in Idaho waters. This recommendation is being issued because analysis of fish from Idaho lakes, rivers and reservoirs found that both smallmouth and largemouth bass may have elevated levels of mercury.

Mercury could be dangerous to developing fetuses and children if food containing mercury is eaten too often. That’s why women who are pregnant or could be pregnant as well as children should eat no more than two meals of bass per month and should not eat any other fish if they consume this amount. For the general population, the recommendation is to limit bass meals to one per week.

Idaho has issued water-body specific fish advisories since 2001, but this is the first statewide fish advisory. The state of Washington issued a similar advisory for bass in 2003. A list of specific water body fish advisories can be found on IDHW’s website (www.healthy.idaho.gov, click on Fish Advisories).

Mercury in fish is a national concern, with all 50 states issuing fish advisories. Generally, eating fish is good for one’s health; they are low in fat, high in protein and have many beneficial nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids. The American Heart Association recommends that individuals eat 2-3 servings a week of fish, including shellfish, to improve heart health. However, since mercury can affect the development of children’s nervous systems and their ability to learn, Idaho health officials advise people to limit the amount of mercury they consume by eating fish that are low in mercury. A list of fish low in mercury can be found at the website listed above.

Bass and other predatory fish are a greater concern than many other freshwater fish because they may accumulate higher concentrations of mercury by eating other fish. Cooking does not remove the mercury from fish, which is why the fish advisories recommend consumption limits. Some additional tips to help people make informed decisions about fish consumption include:

Eat smaller, younger fish which have less mercury and other contaminants.
Eat fewer predatory fish (bass, walleye, catfish, large brown trout) that feed on other fish since the predatory fish may have higher levels of mercury.
To reduce contaminants other than mercury, cut away the skin and fat before cooking.
If there is no advisory for the lake or stream where you are fishing, only eat one meal of fish from that water a week and do not eat any other fish. However, Rainbow trout are typically low in mercury and up to two meals a week can be safely eaten.

The benefits of eating fish are great and Idahoans are strongly encouraged to include fish in their diet. By following these guidelines, people can carefully choose the type and amount of fish they eat. When the right fish choices are made, the benefits of eating fish that are low in mercury outweigh any health risk.

The statewide bass advisory is a collaborative effort of Idaho and federal agencies including the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

For more information, please call IDHW’s Environmental Health Education and Assessment Hotline at 1-866-240-3553 or visit www.healthy.idaho.gov and click on Fish Advisories then “Safe Fish Eating Guidelines for Pregnant Women and Children” for further guidance on how to safely consume fish.