Choose Safer Fish Prepare It Healthy
Certain fish naturally build up fewer When preparing whole fish, trim off the skin and contaminants in their bodies than others, making fat to reduce contaminants. them a healthier option for you. Cook and eat only the fillet. Baking, broiling, or From Ohio waters, grilling the fish can cook off PCBs, and these
Choose: methods won’t add extra unhealthy fats as with frying. For Ohio sportfish recipes, visit • Crappie • Yellow perch http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/education-and- Fish • Bluegill outdoor-discovery/wild-ohio-cookbook/fish- For Your Health • Sunfish recipes
Avoid: Cut away the fat along
• Fish from a body of water known to be the back Advice for making Ohio-caught contaminated Remove skin • Bottom-feeders fish a healthy part of your diet. and suckers
• Older, larger fish which have had more 2019 time to build up contaminants
From grocery stores and restaurants,
Choose: Cut • Shrimp Trim away the fatty • Canned light tuna off the area along the
• Salmon belly fat side of the fish
• Tilapia
Avoid: For More Information • Shark • Swordfish Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (614) 644-2160 • Tilefish (800) 755-4769 • Orange roughy [email protected] • Bigeye tuna • Marlin Ohio Department of Health
• King Mackerel (614) 728-9452 [email protected]
Keep in mind that one serving of fish is 4 – 6 Ohio Department of Natural Resources ounces for adults and 2 – 3 ounces for 1-800-WILDLIFE (945-3543) [email protected] children. wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/fishing/fishing-basics
Ohio-Caught Fish and Your Diet Myths and Facts Know Ohio’s Affected Waters
Test your knowledge about eating Ohio-caught In general, a person should eat no more than There are many benefits to including fish in a fish with the myths and facts below. one serving of Ohio-caught fish every week. In balanced diet for people of all ages. Fish are some Ohio waters, fish should be catch and high in protein, low in fat, and contain healthy Myth 1: Since some fish in Ohio have release only. The chart below identifies some fish oils called omega-3s. Additionally, fishing can be contaminants, I shouldn’t eat any fish at from a few specific water bodies that should a rewarding hobby that brings people closer to all to be on the safe side. never be eaten in any amount. nature, provides a source of natural food, and can even help with wildlife conservation. Fact: The benefits of eating fish are greater Affected Waterways than the risks. Species Unfortunately, some fish in Ohio’s waters are Myth 2: Adult men and women don’t need to Dicks Creek contaminated with harmful chemicals like worry about fish contaminants. Cincinnati-Dayton Road, methylmercury and a group of chemicals called Middletown to the Great All Species PCBs. Over time, eating contaminated fish can Fact: Although children under 15, including Miami River (Butler County) cause health problems. Children and infants, nursing infants, and unborn babies women of childbearing age, and pregnant and whose mothers eat fish are most Great Miami River breastfeeding women should limit meals of affected, studies show that eating highly Dayton (River Miles 75 – 87) Common Carp contaminated fish. contaminated fish regularly is a problem Channel Catfish for all people. Eating fish with high levels If you are eating Ohio-caught fish often, it is of mercury can lead to adult heart Little Scioto River important to understand how to choose and problems. In extreme cases, it can cause State Route 739, near Marion to Holland Road, prepare fish with fewer contaminants to protect problems with the brain and nerves. All Species near Marion (Marion your health. The Ohio Sport Fish Consumption Myth 3: The water I fish in looks clear, and the County) Advisory provides helpful guidance on choosing fillets look clean, so the fish is safe to eat. Ohio River which Ohio fish are safer to eat and helps to Pennsylvania Border, East protect you and your family from chemicals that Fact: You can’t always see contamination. Liverpool, to Belleville Lock Channel may harm your health. You do not have to give The best way to know what waters are (Athens, Belmont, Catfish 18” up eating wild-caught Ohio fish to maintain a safe to fish in is to check the Ohio Sport Columbiana, Jefferson, Meigs, and over healthy lifestyle. Fish Consumption Advisory. Monroe, Washington Counties) Pregnant women should always consult their Myth 4: Fish from grocery stores and restaurants is Tuscarawas River doctors about how to include fish in their diet. not as contaminated as fish caught in Massillon to State Route 416, New Philadelphia Ohio. Common Carp (Stark, Tuscarawas
Fact: Ohio fish have similar amounts of Counties)
mercury as fish from grocery stores and restaurants. An Ohio-caught black Download a Full Advisory Guide crappie or saugeye has about as much
mercury as a can of light tuna. For a guide of all fish advisories in Ohio, visit epa.ohio.gov/dsw/fishadvisory/index.aspx