Recently the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) issued the 2008 Fish Consumption Advisory, an annual report focusing on the benefits of eating fish, and which fish species should be eaten in limited quantities, or not eaten at all, due to environmental contaminants.
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The advisory is based on annual fish studies conducted at various Missouri lakes, rivers, and streams.
The 2008 guide to eating Missouri fish says that as a general rule smaller fish tend to have lower levels of contamination than larger fish of the same species.
Eat the smaller, legal-size fish and release the lunkers so they can fight another day.
The advisory is provided for two groups of individuals — sensitive populations and all consumers.
Sensitive populations include women who are pregnant, women of childbearing age, nursing mothers, and children under 13 years of age. There is a state-wide limited-consumption advisory for sensitive populations on all fish due to the presence of mercury.
There are a few advisories on specific fish from specific water bodies throughout the state for both sensitive populations and all consumers.
To see the full advisory listing the species, length, serving size and contaminate go to http://www.dhss.mo.gov/fishadvisory/.
None of the water bodies in Daviess County are included in the advisory.
DHSS has an unrestricted consumption advisory for catfish, buffalo, freshwater drum, suckers, paddlefish, and many other sport fish.
These fish may be consumed in unlimited quantities except for the areas mentioned in the summary table and for sensitive populations.
Smaller and/or younger fish such as sunfish and crappie tend to have lower levels of contaminants in their bodies because they consume smaller prey and have not lived as long to have time to accumulate as many contaminants.
Because of this, they are less likely to contain contaminants that bioaccumulate in the muscle or fat tissue. With the exception of sensitive populations and the locations discussed in the advisory summary table, these fish also can be consumed in unlimited amounts.
All fish contain some small amount of chemical contaminants. In most instances and for most people, the health benefits of eating fish outweigh the potential health risks from contaminants.
Because not all waters in Missouri are monitored, this fish consumption advice is considered a baseline of protection.
If a fishing location has warning signs posted, follow those specific local guidelines.
If you plan to go fishing in the following waters, you should consult the advisory listing to find out what fish might not be good eating:
Mississippi and Missouri Rivers; Blue River from Minor Park to confluence with Brush Creek in Jackson County; Turkey Creek near Highway “P” in Jasper County;
Big River in St. Francois and Jefferson counties; Flat River in St. Francois County from Highway “B”, six miles downstream to where it enters the Big River; Big Creek near the town of Glover in Iron County;
Middle Fork of Black River in Reynolds County; Simpson Park Lake at Simpson Park in St. Louis County.