New consumption advice for Hanford Reach fish

The Washington State Department of Health recently added the 150-mile stretch of the Columbia River from McNary Dam to the I-90 bridge near Vantage to its growing list of waterways with fish consumption advisories.

After testing levels of mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls – commonly known as PCBs –in six fish species found in that section of the Columbia River, DOH recommends the following meal limits:

--DO NOT EAT: Northern pikeminnow.

--One meal per month: Carp, mountain whitefish, white sturgeon.

--Two meals per month: Bridgelip sucker, largemouth bass, walleye.

--Four meals per month: Smallmouth bass.

--Healthy choices: Lamprey, salmon, shad and steelhead.

Fish is a nutritious source of protein and Omega-3 fatty acids, and DOH recommends eating at least two seafood meals per week as part of a heart healthy diet. To reduce your exposure to contaminants in fish, eat a variety of fish from a variety of sources. Before fishing, check for advisories at http://www.doh.wa.gov/fish or call 1-877-485-7316.