Fish Consumption Advisories

I got a question last week from someone about fish consumption advisories on Sabine Lake, so I looked at what the state had posted there and in the Galveston area.

Here is what I found.

Sabine Lake and contiguous Texas waters in Jefferson and Orange counties

Chemical of Concern: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

• For gafftopsail catfish, adults should limit consumption to no more than three 8-ounce meals per month.
• Children under 12 and women who are pregnant, nursing, or may become pregnant should limit consumption to no more than one 4-ounce meal per monthHouston/Galveston Area

Houston/Galveston Area

Clear Creek in Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston and Harris counties
Chemical of Concern: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

• Persons should not consume any species of fish from these waters.

Galveston Bay including Chocolate Bay, East Bay, West Bay, Trinity Bay and contiguous waters
Chemicals of Concern: Dioxin and Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

• For all catfish species and spotted seatrout, adults should limit consumption to no more than one, 8-ounce meal per month.
• Women who are nursing, pregnant, or who may become pregnant and children should not consume catfish or spotted seatrout from these waters.

Houston Ship Channel upstream of the Lynchburg Ferry crossing and all contiguous water including the San Jacinto River below U.S. Highway 90 bridge
Chemicals of Concern: Dioxin, Organochlorine pesticides, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

• For all species of fish and blue crabs, adults should limit consumption to no more than one, 8-ounce meal per month.
• Women of child-bearing age and children under 12 should not consume any fish or blue crabs from this area.

Houston Ship Channel downstream of the Lynchburg Ferry crossing and all contiguous waters including Upper Galveston Bay north of a line drawn from Red Bluff Point to Five Mile cut Marker to Houston Point
Chemicals of Concern: Dioxin and Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

• For spotted seatrout, blue crabs and all catfish species, adults should limit consumption to no more than one, 8-ounce meal per month.
• Children under 12 and women of childbearing age should not consume spotted seatrout, blue crabs, or any catfish species from this area