An advisory is a recommendation made by federal, state, or tribal agencies to limit, or avoid, consumption of fish or shellfish harvested due to contaminants. State advisories are typically geared towards recreational anglers. Please note: advisories are site-specific.
Why are advisories site specific?
Fish consumption advisories are site specific because fish contaminant levels, which are linked to what a fish ate, are site specific.
How does a fish get put on an advisory?
An advisory is placed on a species of fish when a group of fish captured from the same sampling site contains unsafe levels of contaminants based on standards developed by the EPA and FDA.
Who is responsible for state advisories?
The development and maintenance of advisories are a collaborative effort. Responsible agencies may vary state to state, but typically a state branch of the EPA, the department of natural resources, and the state department of public health are involved.
Here is an example of how the partnership usually works. One agency, like a state branch of the EPA, is responsible for testing and another agency, like the state department of health, is responsible for reviewing the test results and issuing advisories.
Test results are compared to EPA and FDA standards for safe levels of exposure. If contaminants in a population of fish exceed safe levels, an advisory will be issued. Recommendations to limit, or avoid, consumption correspond to the type and amounts of contaminants found.
Fish Consumption Advisory Resource List
Illinois
Illinois Department of Public Health
Current Fish Advisory Map
Illinois Department of Public Health
Current Special Mercury Advisory
Indiana
Indiana State Department of Environmental Public Health
Fish Consumption Advisory
Indiana Fish Consumption Advisory (Map)
Indiana Fishing Regulation Guide: Fish Consumption
Iowa
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Fish Consumption Advisories
Kansas
Kansas Wildlife, Parks & Tourism
2018 Kansas Fish Consumption Advisories
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Kansas Issues Fish Consumption Advisories for 2020
Michigan
Michigan Department of Health & Human Services
Eat safe fish guides
Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Health
Fish Consumption Guidance
Missouri
Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services
Missouri Fish Advisory
2020 Missouri Fish Advisory: A Guide to Eating Missouri Fish
Nebraska
Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy
Fish Consumption Advisory
North Dakota
North Dakota Department of Health
Fish Consumption Advisory
Ohio
Ohio Department of Health
Ohio Sport Fish Consumption Advisory
South Dakota
South Dakota Department of Environment & Natural Resources
South Dakota Fish Consumption Advisory
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Fishing Wisconsin: Eat your catch- making healthy choices
Choose wisely- 2016: A healthy guide for eating fish in Wisconsin
National
EPA Fish and Shellfish Advisories and Safe Eating Guide
EPA State, Territory and Tribe Fish Advisory Contacts
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