May 16, 2007

Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) Director Janet Olszewski today announced that the 2007 Michigan Fish Advisory-which shows which sport fish are best for you and least contaminated to eat-is available online just in time for the heart of the 2007 fishing season.

"This advisory is extremely important because women of childbearing age, pregnant women, and young children are sensitive to chemicals that build up in fish over time," Olszewski said. "Following the advice contained in the guide ensures that fish are consumed safely."

The guide provides advice on consuming fish from Michigan rivers, inland lakes, and the surrounding Great Lakes. The updated guide contains 71 relaxed or rescinded advisories and 40 advisories expanded because of chemical contamination.

Several carp advisories have been rescinded for the lower, middle, and main branches of the Rouge River in Detroit. The walleye advisory for the Saginaw Bay and the Tittabawassee River has also been relaxed for adult men and women beyond childbearing years to unlimited consumption of walleye under 22 inches or one meal per week (52 meals per year) of walleye over 22 inches.

Revised advice is one meal per month of walleye under 22 inches or six meals per year of walleye over 22 inches from the Saginaw and Tittabawassee Rivers for women of childbearing age and children under 15 years of age, who are more sensitive to chemical pollution.

Additionally, MDCH has released three new fish consumption information brochures:

- A Family Guide to Eating Fish: Cooking and cleaning methods to remove chemicals other than mercury.

- Avoid Mercury in Fish and Seafood: Shopping & Restaurant Guide: A list of purchased fish that contain mercury

- Guide to Safe Fish and Wild Game Consumption in the Saginaw Bay Watershed: Identifying fish from waters in the Saginaw Bay Watershed that have had chemical testing and are safe to eat on a regular basis.

To obtain any of these guides or for more information about Michigan's Fish Consumption Advisory, please call the MDCH toll free advisory line at 1-800-648-6942 or go to www.michigan.gov/mdch-toxics.