Fish Consumption Advisory

The fishing is great in Minnesota, and so is the eating! Fish are low in fat, high in protein, and may have substantial health benefits when eaten in place of high-fat foods. For most people, most of the fish that they catch while angling are safe to eat. Minnesota’s fish are among the cleanest in the Great Lakes Region. Yet chemicals such as mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), toxaphene, and dioxin have been found in some fish from certain waters. The levels of these chemicals are usually low, and in Minnesota there are no known cases of illness from ingesting these contaminants.

To ensure the continued good health of Minnesota anglers, the Minnesota Department of Health has assembled guidelines for how often these fish can be safely eaten. Click here to visit the Fish Advisory. This advisory is not intended to discourage anglers from eating fish, but rather should be used as a guide for choosing fish which are low in contaminants. If you eat just a few meals of sport-caught fish each year, you probably don’t need to be concerned. But if you eat fish more than once a week, or are pregnant or planning to be pregnant, then you should consult this advisory before eating your catch. Meals for children under six should also be prepared according to this advice.