Updated Fish Advisory for San Francisco Bay
Recommends No Consumption for Several Species
For Immediate Release
Contact: Amy Gilson
(916) 764-0955
Amy.Gilson@oehha.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO – An updated fish advisory issued today for the San Francisco Bay provides safe-eating advice for 18 fish species, including new “do-not-eat” advice for Mississippi Silverside, Pacific Sardine and Topsmelt.
The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) developed the recommendations based on the levels of mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) found in fish caught from the bay.
The new advisory supersedes previous advice released in 2011. It provides advice for the following species:
- American Shad,
- California Halibut,
- Chinook (King) Salmon,
- Jacksmelt,
- Mississippi Silverside,
- Northern Anchovy,
- Barred Surfperch,
- Black Perch,
- Rubberlip Surfperch,
- White Surfperch,
- Pacific Sardine,
- shark species,
- Shiner Perch,
- Striped Bass,
- Topsmelt,
- Walleye Surfperch,
- White Croaker, and
- White Sturgeon.
The “do-not-eat” advice for all fish in the Lauritzen Channel located in Richmond Inner Harbor remains in effect from the previous advisory due to high levels of dieldrin and DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its byproducts).
“Many fish have nutrients that may reduce the risk of heart disease and are excellent sources of protein,” said OEHHA Director Dr. Lauren Zeise. “By following our guidelines for fish caught in San Francisco Bay, people can safely eat fish low in chemical contaminants and enjoy the well-known health benefits of fish consumption.”
When consuming fish from San Francisco Bay, the following advice is issued:
- No one should eat any fish caught from the Lauritzen Channel.
- Women ages 18 – 49 and children ages 1 – 17:
- Should not eat Mississippi Silverside, Pacific Sardine, shark species, Shiner Surfperch, Striped Bass, Topsmelt, and White Sturgeon.
- May safely eat a maximum of two total servings per week of American Shad or Chinook (King) Salmon; or one serving per week of Barred Surfperch, Black Perch, California Halibut, Jacksmelt, Northern Anchovy, Rubberlip Surfperch, Walleye Surfperch, White Croaker or White Surfperch.
- Women ages 50 and older and men ages 18 and older:
- Should not eat Mississippi Silverside, Pacific Sardine, Shiner Surfperch and Topsmelt.
- May safely eat a maximum of seven total servings per week of American Shad; or five total servings per week of Chinook (King) Salmon; or three total servings per week of Barred Surfperch, Black Perch, Rubberlip Surfperch or White Surfperch; or two total servings per week of California Halibut or Jacksmelt; or one total serving per week of Northern Anchovy, shark species, Striped Bass, Walleye Surfperch, White Croaker or White Sturgeon.
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.
A poster with the safe eating advice for San Francisco Bay is below and available on OEHHA’s website in both English and Spanish.
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).
PCBs are a group of industrial chemicals while DDTs and dieldrin are pesticides. At high levels of exposure, they can cause health problems, including cancer. Although they were banned in the United States in the 1970s, these legacy chemicals persist in the environment from spills, leaks or improper disposal. They accumulate in the skin, fat and some internal organs of fish. To reduce exposure from contaminated fish, OEHHA recommends eating only the skinless fillet (meat) portion of the fish. This is particularly true in San Francisco Bay where some fish species have been shown to have much higher levels of PCBs in the skin compared to the meat.
OEHHA’s fish advisory recommendations are based on the levels of contaminants, such as mercury and PCBs, that persist in the environment and accumulate in fish. 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.
Eating fish in amounts slightly greater than the advisory’s recommendations is not likely to cause health problems if it is done only occasionally, such as eating fish caught during an annual vacation.
The San Francisco Bay advisory joins more than 130 other OEHHA advisories that provide site-specific, health-based fish consumption advice for many of the places where people catch and eat fish in California, including lakes, rivers, bays, reservoirs and the California coast. Advisories are available on OEHHA’s Fish Advisories webpage.
OEHHA’s mission is to protect and enhance the health of Californians and the environment through scientific evaluations that inform, support, and guide regulatory and other actions in the state.
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- Apr 19, 2023Apr 19, 2023
