Fish Advisory for Lake Natoma Offers Safe Eating Advice for Eight Fish Species

Sep 28, 2021

For Immediate Release:
Julian Leichty
(279) 895-5930
Julian.Leichty@oehha.ca.gov

SACRAMENTO – An updated state fish advisory issued today for Lake Natoma in Sacramento County provides safe eating advice for black bass species, Channel Catfish, Chinook (King) Salmon, Common Carp, Inland Silverside, Rainbow Trout, Sacramento Sucker and sunfish species.

Lake Natoma is located approximately 15 miles northeast of Sacramento. The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) developed the recommendations based on the levels of mercury found in fish caught from the lake. OEHHA updated the advisory to include advice for three additional species: Common Carp, Inland Silverside and Sacramento Sucker.

“Many fish have nutrients that may reduce the risk of heart disease and are excellent sources of protein,” said Dr. Lauren Zeise, director of OEHHA. “By following our guidelines for fish caught in Lake Natoma, people can safely eat fish low in chemical contaminants and enjoy the well-known health benefits of fish consumption.”

When consuming fish from Lake Natoma, the following advice is issued:

Women ages 18 – 49 and children ages 1 – 17 should not eat black bass, Channel Catfish, Chinook (King) Salmon, or Rainbow Trout over 16 inches. They may safely eat a maximum of two total servings per week of Inland Silverside, Rainbow Trout measuring 16 inches or less, or sunfish species, or one total serving per week of Common Carp or Sacramento Sucker.
Women ages 50 and older and men ages 18 and older should not eat black bass species, Channel Catfish, Chinook (King) Salmon, or Rainbow Trout over 16 inches. They may safely eat a maximum of two total servings per week of Inland Silverside, Rainbow Trout measuring 16 inches or less, or sunfish species, or one total serving per week of Common Carp or Sacramento Sucker.

OEHHA’s fish advisory recommendations are based on the levels of contaminants that persist in the environment, such as mercury. They are independent of any advisories to limit fish intake due to freshwater or estuarine harmful algal blooms (HABs). Before fishing, check the California HABs Portal to see if there are recommended HAB advisories and always practice healthy water habits.

A poster with the safe eating advice for Lake Natoma is available on OEHHA’s website in both English and Spanish. For fish species found in Lake Natoma that are not included in this advisory, OEHHA recommends following the statewide advisory for eating fish from California lakes and reservoirs without site-specific advice.

One serving is an eight-ounce fish fillet, measured prior to cooking, which is roughly the size and thickness of your hand. Children should eat smaller servings. For small fish species, several individual fish may make up a single serving.

Mercury is released into the environment from mining and burning coal. It accumulates in fish in the form of methylmercury, which can damage the brain and nervous system, especially in developing children and fetuses. Because of this, OEHHA provides a separate set of recommendations specifically for children up to age 17 and women of childbearing age (18–49 years).

Eating fish in amounts slightly greater than the advisory’s recommendations based on mercury is not likely to cause health problems if it is done only occasionally, such as eating fish caught during an annual vacation.

The Lake Natoma advisory joins more than 100 other OEHHA advisories that provide site-specific, health-based fish consumption advice for many of the places where people catch fish in California, including lakes, rivers, bays, reservoirs, and the California coast. Advisories are available on OEHHA’s Fish Advisories web page.

OEHHA’s mission is to protect and enhance the health of Californians and our state’s environment through scientific evaluations that inform, support, and guide regulatory and other actions.

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