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Water Quality | Mercury
Fish Consumption Advisories
Statewide fish consumption advisories have been issued for all of the New England states, and well as New York State. Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont have issued statewide advisories for all freshwaters. Massachusetts, Maine, and New York, have issued statewide advisories for all freshwater and coastal or estuarine waters.
In general, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advise that women and young children limit their consumption of fish to 12 ounces per week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury. The most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish. Canned albacore “white” tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna, so only 6 ounces of this fish should be consumed per week. Women and children should not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish because these types of fish contain high levels of mercury.
States offer more specific advice based on their fish tissue monitoring data. Some states provide information only for women of childbearing age and children, while other states also provide information for the general population. All of the states post fish consumption advisory information on their respective websites.