LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT Public Information Series OF HEALTH & HOSPITALS Locally caught fish which are more likely to build up mercury For More Information

Freshwater: About Contact Phone Website Bowfin (Choupique, Grinnel) Louisiana Fish (888) http://www.dhh. Consumption LDHH louisiana.gov/ Advisories 293-7020 offices/?ID=205

Largemouth Bass http://www.deq. Louisiana’s (225) louisiana.gov/ portal/ Mercury LDEQ tabid/287/ Program 219-3590 Default.aspx

Louisiana (225) www.wlf. Spotted Bass Fishing LDWF Licenses 765-2800 louisiana.gov

Commercially (800) www.cfsan.fda.gov/ FDA Garfish Bought Fish Safefood seafood1.html

National Fish (202) www.epa.gov/ Consumption EPA Advice 566-0389 ost/fish Freshwater Drum (225) www.louisiana LAC Related 346-8761 audubon.org Non-profit Information (225) LEAN www.leanweb.org 928-1315 Saltwater: King Mackerel

Acknowledgments Blackfin Tuna This brochure was produced by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals’ Office of Public Health, in cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Color Fish Graphics  by Duane Raver. Cobia (Ling, Lemonfish) Published January 2009.

This public document was printed at a total cost of $0000.00. 00,000 copies of this public document were published in this first printing at Greater Amberjack a cost of $0000.00. This document was published by Department of Center for Environmental Health Services (CEHS), Health and Hospitals/Bureau of Media & Communications, P.O. Box Section of Environmental Epidemiology & Toxicology (SEET) 3234, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-3234, to inform the public, under the authority of R.S. 36:258(B). It was printed in accordance with standards for printing by state agencies established pursuant to R.S. 43:31. The Louisiana Legislature funds Louisiana’s Mercury Program. Louisiana Fish Advisories: www.seet.dhh.louisiana.gov or 1-888-293-7020

Locally caught fish which are What is mercury? How do I know if locally caught

LESS likely to build up mercury Mercury is a naturally occurring substance fish are safe to eat? that is released into the environment through both human activity and natural processes. It exists  Check to see where fish were caught and if in small amounts in lakes, rivers and oceans there are advisories for those bodies of water. Freshwater: throughout the world. Advisories can be found on the Internet at: Bluegill (Bream) www.seet.dhh.louisiana.gov or by calling the Section of Environmental Epidemiology and How can mercury threaten Toxicology (SEET) at 1-888-293-7020. our health?  Follow the guidelines for each body of water under a fish advisory and find out which kinds of Mercury may build up in organisms such as fish fish are safe to eat and in what amounts. Longear Sunfish over time, and in humans who eat fish contaminated with mercury. Mercury can harm the brain and nerves.  Eat younger and smaller fish, since they usually Symptoms include tingling or numbness in the mouth, contain less mercury. hands and feet, as well as vision and hearing troubles.  Eat fish from different sources. Children under seven years of age and unborn babies are very sensitive to mercury because their  Breast milk is an excellent source of nutrition nervous systems are still forming. While damage for your baby. So if you are breast-feeding or Redear Sunfish caused by mercury in adults is reversible, effects in planning to breast feed, continue to do so but (Chinquapin) children may be irreversible. A pregnant mother can follow the fish intake guidelines. pass mercury to an unborn or nursing child. Young  Seek medical advice if you, or one of your children with high levels of mercury in their bodies family members, has questions about eating may take longer to walk or talk, and could develop fish that may contain mercury. learning problems. Warmouth (Goggle eye) DID YOU What about seafood from stores and restaurants? KNOW? EPA/FDA have issued the following Some fish in guidelines for women and young children: Louisiana’s 1. Do not eat King Mackerel, Swordfish, Shark, REMEMBER ... waterways or Tilefish. Fish is an excellent source of low-fat protein, vitamins and minerals which contain levels 2. Eat up to 2 average meals per week of a promote heart health and proper of mercury variety of fish lower in mercury (e.g., shrimp, childhood development. You don’t have which can canned light tuna, salmon, pollack and catfish). to quit eating fish from Louisiana Albacore (white) tuna has more mercury than lakes and rivers . . . be harmful canned light tuna so eat up to 1 meal per week Just learn how to to pregnant of white tuna. women and eat them safely! 3. Eat up to 6-ounces (1 meal) per week of fish young children. from local waterbodies with no advisory.