New Safety Guidelines For Eating Fish From Lake St. Clair

ST. CLAIR SHORES, MI — Folks around the region love to head to Lake St. Clair to fish, but not every catch is healthy. This week the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services released guidelines for eating fish from the lake due to elevated levels of chemicals, specifically mercury, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Some fish are strictly discouraged from being eaten and some areas around St. Clair Shores are suggested as off limits, according to the report.

The Eat Safe Fish guidelines for the lake include the kind of fish that can be caught, which chemicals are at risk of being consumed and the safe serving sizes. It’s recommended to follow these guidelines to stay healthy:

• Bluegills - PFOS. Any size, 4 servings per month.
• Carp - PCBs. Any size, limited to only once or twice a year.
• Catfish - dioxins. Any size, limited to once or twice a year.
• Black crappie - mercury. Under 9 inches, 8 servings per month; over 8 inches, 4 servings per month.
• Freshwater drum (sheepshead) - PCBs and mercury. Any size, 2 servings per month.
• Largemouth and smallmouth bass - PCBs and mercury. Under 20 inches, 2 servings per months; over 20 inches, 1 serving per month.
• Muskellunge - mercury. Any size, do not eat.
• Northern pike - mercury. Any size, 2 servings per month.
• Rock bass - PCBs. Any size, 1 serving per month; 2 servings if fat is cut away and fish is cooked so more fat drips away.
• Sturgeon - PCBs. Any size, limited to once or twice a year.
• Sunfish - PFOS. Any size, 4 servings per month.
• Walleye - PCBs and dioxins. Any size, 6 per year; 12 servings per year if fat is cut away and fish is cooked so more fat drips away.
• White (silver) bass - PCBs. Any size, limited to once or twice a year.
• White crappie - mercury. Under 9 inches, 8 servings per month; over 9 inches, 4 servings per month.
• Yellow perch - mercury. Any size, 4 servings per month.

A special notice is in effect for the waters within two miles of the Lange-Revere Canals between Lakefront Park and Veterans Memorials Park in St. Clair Shores:

• Bluegills - PCBs. Any size, 6 per year; 12 if fat is cut away and fish is cooked so more fat drips away.
• Carp - PCBs. Any size, limited to only once or twice a year.
• Largemouth bass - PCBs. Under 20 inches, 1 serving per month; 2 per month if fat is cut away and fish is cooked so more fat drips away; over 20 inches, PCBs and mercury, 1 serving per month.
• Muskellunge - mercury. Any size, do not eat.
• Smallmouth bass - PCBs. Under 20 inches, 1 serving per month; 2 per month if fat is cut away and fish is cooked so more fat drips away; over 20 inches, PCBs and mercury, 1 serving per month.
• Sunfish - PCBs. Any size, 6 per year; 12 per year if fat is cut away and fish is cooked so more fat drips away.
• Walleye, - PCBs and dioxins. Any, 6 per year; 12 servings per year if fat is cut away and fish is cooked so more fat drips away.
• Yellow perch - PCBs. Any, 2 servings per month; 4 per month if fat is cut away and fish is cooked so more fat drips away.
• All other species - PCBs. Any, limited to once or twice a year.

Special notice for the Lange-Revere Canals in St. Clair Shores:

• All species - PCBs. Do not eat.

The state's recommended fish serving for adults is 6-8 ounces of fish (about the size of an adult’s hand). For children, one serving is 2-4 ounces of fish (about the size of an adult’s palm). For more information on fishing guidelines in Lake St. Clair and recommended serving sizes, click here.

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