Fish are nutritious and good to eat. Fish are low in fat, high in protein, and provide substantial health benefits when eaten in place of high-fat foods in the diet. While most sport fish taken in Ohio are safe to eat, chemicals such as mercury and PCBs have been found in some fish from certain waters. The levels of these chemicals are usually low, but could potentially be a health concern to individuals whose diet consists of a high percentage of fish.
For public health protection, the ODNR Division of Wildlife and other state agencies, in cooperation with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, routinely monitor chemicals in fish collected from waters throughout Ohio. The Department of Health then issues an annual updated fish contaminant advisory. The advisory is available at http://www.epa.state.oh.us/dsw/fishadvisory/index.html
Information is also available by calling 1-800-755-GROW.
|