Missouri health officials kicked off fishing season by publishing the 25th annual guide to the safest way to handle and eat fish caught in Missouri waters.
The Fish Consumption Advisory is packed with tips on the best ways to safely clean, cook and consume locally caught fish. It offers information about the benefits of eating fish as part of a healthy diet. And it warns anglers about recommended limits on eating fish caught in certain Missouri streams.
The advisory also provides information about the potential health effects of key contaminants and recommends ways to handle fish to reduce contaminants prior to consumption.
A significant change in the new edition is the removal of an advisory for the Middle Fork of the Black River in Reynolds County. In the past, lead was a concern in smallmouth bass in this area, but several years of fish sampling results have shown that these fish can be safely eaten.
This year’s edition also contains new cautions about fish preparation methods that should be avoided. Canning, pickling or grinding fish may increase the amount of lead ingested from bony fish caught in historic lead-mining regions of the state.
The full 2010 advisory, published by the Missouri Department of Health Senior Services, can be viewed on the department’s Web site at www.dhss.mo.gov/fishadvisory/.
The advisory also contains advice about the health benefits of eating fish. Fish is a good source of high-quality protein and essential nutrients and is low in cholesterol. Some types of fish contain Omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for the development of the nervous system. Research has shown that Omega-3 acids also help reduce heart disease and offer other health benefits.
All fish contain small amounts of chemical contaminants, but the health benefits of eating fish in most cases outweigh the risks from contaminants, health officials say. However, there are occasions when fish consumption should be limited or eliminated altogether.
Chemicals commonly found in fish may affect children and developing fetuses differently than adults. Many of the recommended limits are especially important for children younger than 13 years old and women of childbearing age, especially those who are pregnant or nursing.
Because of elevated mercury levels in certain fish, the advisory recommends that pre-teens and women of child-bearing age eat no more than one fish meal per month of certain types of fish. This recommendation applies to walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and spotted bass longer than 12 inches caught anywhere in the state.
The advisory also suggests ways to reduce exposure to lead in fishing tackle. Anglers are advised not to place tackle in their mouths, to wash their hands before eating or drinking and to consider using fishing tackle made of alternative materials, such as tin, bismuth and tungsten.
State health officials will continue to monitor fish tissue for contaminants to ensure that Missourians can enjoy the state’s fishing resources and obtain the health benefits of eating fish.
