SD Health Dept - Fish consumption advisories

South Dakota Fish Consumption Advisories

Fish in South Dakota lakes and rivers are tested for metals, pesticides, and PCB's as a collaborative effort of the South Dakota Departments of Game, Fish & Parks, Environment & Natural Resources, and Health. The Department of Health recommends the following guidelines for indicated species in lakes with consumption advisories in place:

Healthy adults — no more than one 7-oz. meal per week (52 meals per year); 7 oz. is equal to two medium-size portions or roughly the size of two decks of playing cards
High risk groups (women who plan to become pregnant, are pregnant, or are breast-feeding) — no more than one 7-oz. meal per month (12 meals per year)
Children under age 7 — no more than one 4-oz. meal per month (12 meals per year); 4 oz. is equal to one medium-size portion or roughly the size of one deck of playing cards

CURRENT MERCURY FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORIES

County	Lake	Fish Species
Brown	Elm Lake	Walleye - 22" & larger
Butte	Newell Lake Newell Lake	Walleye - 18" & larger Northern Pike over 18"
Clark	Reid Lake	Walleye over 23"
Corson	Pudwell Dam	Walleye -18" & larger
Day	Bitter Lake Lake Minnewasta Middle Lynn Lake Opitz Lake	Walleye - all sizes Northern Pike - 30" & larger Walleye - 18" & larger Walleye - 18" & larger Northern Pike over 26"
Dewey	Lake Isabel	Northern Pike - 25" & larger Largemouth Bass - 17" & larger
Kingsbury	W. Hwy. 81 / Twin Lakes	Walleye - 18" & larger Northern Pike - 19" & larger
McCook/Minnehaha	Island Lake	Smallmouth Bass - 18 " & larger Walleye - 18" & larger
Minnehaha	Twin Lakes	Walleye - all sizes
Perkins	Coal Springs Reservoir	Northern Pike - over 25"
Potter	Lake Hurley	Largemouth Bass - 18" & larger
Tripp	Lake Roosevelt Lake Roosevelt	Largemouth Bass -18" & larger Northern Pike over 24"

For more information contact:

Pat Snyder, SD Department of Environment & Natural Resources, 773-4729
John Lott, SD Department of Game, Fish & Parks, 773-4508
Bill Chalcraft, SD Department of Health, 773-6188

NOTE: Regarding fish from freshwater lakes, ponds, and streams where mercury levels are not currently known, the Environmental Protection Agency makes the following recommendation:

If you are pregnant or could become pregnant, are nursing a baby, or if you are feeding a young child, limit consumption of freshwater fish caught by family and friends to one meal per week. For adults one meal is six
ounces of cooked fish or eight ounces uncooked fish; for a young child one meal is two ounces cooked fish or
three ounces uncooked fish.

In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued advice on mercury in fish bought from stores
and restaurants, which includes ocean and coastal fish as well as other types of commercial fish. FDA advises
that women who are pregnant or could become pregnant, nursing mothers and young children not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish. FDA also advises that women of childbearing age and pregnant women
may eat an average of 12 ounces of fish purchased in stores and restaurants each week. Therefore, if in a
given week you eat 12 ounces of cooked fish from a store or restaurant, then do not eat fish caught by your family
or friends that week. This is important to keep the total level of methylmercury contributed by all fish at a low level
in your body.

Related links

South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks consumption advisory information
South Dakota Department of Health - Mercury and Fish Consumption
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Food and Drug Administration
- Advice for Women Who Might Become Pregnant, Women Who Are Pregnant, Nursing Mothers and Young Children
Environmental Protection Agency - What You Need to Know About Mercury in Fish and Shellfish