Eat Safe Fish Booklet
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Get to know which fish from the Niagara River are safe to eat. DISCLAIMER This document is based on the information given in the Guide to Eating Ontario Fish. For information purposes only. Please Get to know which fish from the consult the Guide for more detailed advice especially if you eat multiple species or fish Niagara River are safe to eat. from other locations. The information has not been endorsed by the governments of Ontario or Canada. The content is based on information given for the Canadian side of the Niagara River only. 2019-2020 CONTENTS 1 | Overview 3 | Choose wisely. Eat safely. 27 | Freshwater Drum 4 | Know the 3 Cs: Choose, Clean, Cook 29 | Lake Trout 5 | How to use this booklet 31 | Largemouth Bass 7 | General vs. Sensitive Populations 33 | Northern Pike 7 | The size of the fish matters! 35 | Pumpkinseed 8 | What kind of fish did you catch? 37 | Rainbow Smelt 8 | How much you eat matters 39 | Rainbow Trout 9 | What the colours mean 41 | Redhorse Sucker 10 | Where you catch matters 43 | Rock Bass 11 | Black Crappie 45 | Smallmouth Bass 13 | Bluegill 47 | Walleye 15 | Brown Bullhead 49 | White Bass 17 | Brown Trout 51 | White Perch 19 | Channel Catfish 53 | White Sucker 21 | Chinook Salmon 55 | Yellow Perch 23 | Coho Salmon 57 | Additional Info 25 | Common Carp 58 | Acknowledgments Fish from Ontario lakes and This booklet is for the Ontario Fishing is a fun way to get outdoors. Fish rivers (including the Niagara side of the Niagara River only. can be a nutritious part of a balanced diet. River) are routinely collected and It is meant to provide an easy- Eating fish provides an excellent source of tested for these chemicals by the to-understand summary of the protein, omega-3 fats, and other essential Government of Ontario. The data advice given in the Guide so you nutrients. However, depending on the are used to advise the public on can make the best choices to Eat FISH type, size, and number of fish eaten, safe eating of fish through the Safe Fish from the Niagara River. people may be at risk for eating harmful Guide to Eating Ontario Fish Refer to the Guide for more FOR chemicals in the fish they eat. (or Guide, for short). detailed information, especially HEALTH The Niagara River’s water quality has A polluted fish may not taste, if you eat different fishes or eat improved over the last 30 years but look, or smell different than a fish from other locations. Please & FUN there are still some chemicals in water fish that is not polluted. The follow Ontario’s recreational that can collect in fish such as mercury, chemicals are too small to see fishing regulations (not provided polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), with the human eye. That’s why in this document). The Niagara dioxins/furan, and photomirex. it’s so important to follow the River is included in fisheries advice for choosing and eating management zones 19 and 20, fish. A full copy of theGuide can depending on where you are be found online at: ontario.ca/ fishing. Fishing rules are found fishguide at: ontario.ca/fishing 1 2 Choose Wisely. Eat Safely. Know the 3 Cs: Choose, Clean, Cook! Some chemicals in the water can collect in fish and may pose a risk to your health. There are many ways to reduce your risk of consuming chemicals from the fish you catch: • Choose leaner species such as walleye, perch, and panfish • Eat smaller fish • Avoid larger predatory fish and bottom feeders • Remove fat and skin from fish before eating • Do not eat organs Choose wisely Clean & Trim Cook Some chemicals such as mercury and perfluorooctane sulfonate are found Smaller fish tend to Some chemicals like Even after trimming throughout the fish flesh. Other than limiting the fish you eat, there is have fewer chemicals. PCBs and dioxins collect away visible fat, some nothing else you can do to reduce or remove these chemicals. Some species have in the fat of the fish. fat can still be present fewer chemicals based Cleaning and trimming inside the fillet. Cook on their feeding habits the fat before cooking can fish on a grill, rack, or and location (e.g., bass, reduce your risk of eating broiler pan in the oven walleye, perch, panfish). chemicals. Remove the so that fat drips away. fillet, cut away skin, trim If you deep-fry fish, do any fat and throw away not reuse the oil. the organs. 3 4 How to use this booklet. This booklet is meant to be a quick, easy-to-understand guide to choosing Key identification Average Ontario Quick, colour-coded and eating safe fish from the Niagara River. Follow these simple steps with features. size and weight. safety identifier. this guide to make sure you Eat Safe Fish. 1. Determine where you are fishing (upper or lower Niagara River). 2. Are you considered to be in the general or sensitive population? 3. Identify and measure your fish. 4. Refer to this booklet or check the Guide to Eating Ontario Fish to find out if the fish you caught is safe to eat. 5. Keep your catch on ice or in a refrigerator to avoid spoilage until it can be cooked or preserved. The information provided is derived from advice given for the Niagara River in the Guide to Eating Ontario Specific advice on the number of meals per Fish. For more details or advice for other locations, month for that fish of different sizes. visit ontario.ca/fishguide. 5 6 General vs Sensitive Populations. What kind of fish did you catch? General population refers to Make sure you know what type of an average sized adult weighing fish you caught to ensure you’re 154 lbs. making the best choices. Use this booklet to help identify your catch. Sensitive population refers to women of child-bearing age and How much you eat matters. children under age 15. The advice for the sensitive The advice in the Guide to Eating population is more strict due Ontario Fish is based on the to the increased health risks. amount of skinless, boneless fish 4 oz eaten, measured by the number The size of the fish matters! of meals eaten. One meal is about 227 g or 8 oz There is different advice given for (size of a dinner plate or two different sizes of the same species. adult palms) for an average adult Use a measuring tape to check the weighing 70 kg (154 lbs). size of your catch (from the tip of 8 oz its nose to the tip of its tail). 7 8 Lake Ontario What the colours mean. To make choosing which Niagara River fish to eat easier, fish are categorized into three colours: red, yellow, and green Where you catch matters. Lower Niagara based on how many meals per month are There is different advice for eating River recommended in the Guide to Eating Niagara River fish depending on where Ontario Fish. Don’t forget that different you catch them. The Niagara River is sizes and species will have different divided into the Upper Niagara River coloured symbols! (upstream of the Falls) or the Lower The Falls Niagara River (bottom of the Falls to Safer choice Lake Ontario). Upper SAFE (8 or more meals per month) Niagara There is different advice given for River Caution, limit amount eaten different sizes of the same species. Use CAUTION (1-4 meals per month) a measuring tape to check the size of your catch (from the tip of its nose to the tip of its tail). Do not eat No information (0 meals per month) AVOID currently available 9 Lake Erie 10 BLACK CRAPPIE Black Crappie 18-25 centimetres Promoxis negromaculatus (7-10 inches) General SENSITIVE Population Population A cool-water fish native to Ontario. 0.23-0.45 kilograms (0.5-1 pounds) Silver with blue or UPPER RIVER UPPER RIVER 7 to 8 dorsal green iridescence fin spines No information No information currently available currently available Lower RIVER Lower RIVER Large mouth extends below 15-25 cm | 6-10 in 15-25 cm | 6-10 in middle of eye Small, deep bodied 6 to 7 anal fin spines © MECP 11 12 BLUEGILL Bluegill 15-22.5 centimetres Lepomus macrochirus (6-9 inches) General SENSITIVE Population Population A warm-water fish native to Ontario. 200 grams Part of the sunfish family. (0.4 pounds) Black spot at UPPER RIVER UPPER RIVER rear end of 10 to 11 dorsal dorsal fin fin spines No information No information Black ear flap currently available currently available with no pale edge Lower RIVER Lower RIVER Small mouth ends before middle of eye 15-20 cm | 6-8 in 15-20 cm | 6-8 in Belly is silver to yellow 3 anal fin spines © MECP 13 14 BROWN BULLHEAD BROWN Brown Bullhead 20-36 centimetres Ameiurus nebulosis (8-14 inches) General SENSITIVE Population Population A warm-water fish native to Ontario. No information Looks similar to catfish. currently available Very sharp bony fin UPPER RIVER UPPER RIVER Elongated with rays on pectoral fin broad, flat head and one on dorsal fin 15-35 cm | 6-14 in 15-35 cm | 6-14 in Lower RIVER Lower RIVER Four sets of Square tail 15-30 cm | 6-12 in 15-30 cm | 6-12 in barbels; 3 under Belly generally white head and one pair 30-40 cm | 12-16 in 30-40 cm | 12-16 in on top © MECP 15 16 BROWN TROUT BROWN Brown Trout 20-60 centimetres Salmo trutta (8-24 inches) General SENSITIVE Population Population A cold-water fish introduced and 0.5–4.5 kilograms naturalized in Ontario.