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2023 Recreational Fishing Regulations
FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORIES
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furnished by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH). LDH, De-
partment of Environmental Quality and Louisiana Department of
Wildlife and Fisheries coordinate in the issuance of advisories.
that contain chemicals.
CONTAMINANTS IN FISH
there is water, people catch and eat fish. However, in a few Louisiana
waters, fish and shellfish have chemical contamination in amounts
that may be harmful to your health if you were to eat too much over
a long period of time.
These contaminants are in the environment because of various
from water, sediments and food. Larger, older fish and fish that eat
other fish tend to accumulate more contaminants than smaller,
younger fish.
The Office of Public Health evaluates chemicals in fish to determine
if the fish are contaminated and pose a health threat to children,
pregnant women, adults or (when indicated) subsistence anglers. A
fish consumption advisory is issued when unacceptable levels of
chemical contaminants have been found in the fish filet.
FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY
Fish consumption advisories in Louisiana are based on chemical levels
in the fish filet. Advisories are issued at very conservative levels to
insure the safety of individuals consuming fish. Advisories provide
guidance regarding fish consumption for each species of fish. They do
not tell you to stop fishing or to stop eating fish. Just be selective
about the fish you or your family eats. None of the fish in Louisiana
are contaminated enough to cause harm after a single or a few meals.
regularly over a long period of time.
species is specifically addressed in the details of the advisory, please
limit consumption of all species in an advisory area to four meals per
month. Louisiana fish consumption advisories are based on the
estimate that the average Louisiana resident eats four fish meals per
month. If you or your family eat more than four meals of fish a month
contact the Office of Public Health toll free at 1-888-293-7020 for
more information about eating fish that contain chemicals.
HEALTH ADVICE AND GUIDELINES
Contaminants found in Louisiana fish can be grouped into two categories: organic chemicals (HCB, HCBD, PCBs and Dioxin) and metals (mer-
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HOW TO REDUCE ORGANIC CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION IN FISH
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and organic chemicals.
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Organic contaminants concentrate in fat.
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off. Throw away drippings.
• When fish are poached or fried, throw away the broth or oil.
Keep smaller fish to eat. Usually, younger, smaller fish are less
contaminated than larger, older fish.
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Contaminants bio-accumulate in predator fish.
• Vary diet by eating a variety of fish, shellfish, meat and poultry.
• Vary source of fish, seafood, meat, poultry and wild game.
CONSUMPTION ADVICE FOR WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT, NURSING OR MIGHT BECOME PREGNANT AND
FOR YOUNG CHILDREN EPA AND FDA, 2004
By following these three recommendations for selecting and eating
fish or shellfish, women and young children will receive the benefits
of eating fish and shellfish and be confident that they have reduced
their exposure to the harmful effects of mercury. Follow these same
recommendations when feeding fish or shellfish to a young child,
but serve smaller portions.
1.
contain high levels of mercury.
2.
are lower in mercury. The five most commonly eaten fish that
are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pol-
tuna may be consumed since this variety contains more mer-
cury than light tuna.
3.
FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORIES
For information on specific waterbodies with advisories please visit deq.
louisiana.gov/page/fishing-consumption-and-swimming-advisories for a
downloadable map of advisory locations. A cell phone app is also available
through Google Play and Apple Store by entering the search term: LA Fish
Advisories. More information can also be obtained by calling the Louisiana
Department of Health hotline at 1-888-293-7020 or the Louisiana
Department of Environmental Quality at 866-896-5337.
FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY WEBSITE GOOGLE PLAY APP (LEFT) & APPLE STORE APP (RIGHT)