See chart with consumption advice by species, search all state waters or by county
From the NYSDOH,
2024 New York State Department of Health advice for eating the fish you catch is protective yet provides plenty of options for the whole family to enjoy fish you catch. New advice is based on an extensive review of available statewide fish contaminant data and considers input from more than 7,800 anglers.
Who You Are Matters
- People who can get pregnant (under age 50) and children under age 15 should follow the more protective Sensitive Population advice.
- Chemicals in fish can have a greater effect on childhood development and unborn babies. Many of these chemicals can stay in the human body for decades. People who eat highly contaminated fish and get pregnant may be at higher risk of having children who are slower to develop and learn. Breastfeeding can also pass on some of these chemicals to a baby.
- Everyone else may have fewer health risks and can eat more fish by following our General Population advice.
- Adirondack and Catskill freshwaters continue to have their own Regional Advice for eating fish you catch.
What’s New for 2024
- The Statewide Advice, which applies to most New York State freshwaters, is now more protective. It has changed from eating up to four meals a month of any fish to different advice for each fish species.
- This change is based on new data analysis, the most recent information on mercury toxicity, and guidance from the EPA and neighboring states. It is not because mercury levels in fish have increased. Mercury has been in the New York State environment and in fish for many years.
- Popular fish such as trout, yellow perch, sunfish, crappie, and smaller walleye are still great choices for eating. However, people should eat less freshwater drum, white perch, and larger walleye and smallmouth bass.
- When following the Statewide Advice, eat mostly Best and Good Choice species.
Changes to Waterbody-specific Advice
- Some waters have Specific Advice because certain fish have higher levels of mercury or other chemicals like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and perfluorinated alkyl substances and (PFAS) than fish in the rest of the state.
- Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Oneida Lake, and parts of the St. Lawrence River offer the most variety of healthy fish choices making them some of the best fisheries if you want to eat your catch.
