Eat Safe Fish and Game

Why eat fish?                                                                                                                                                                         Who is at greatest risk from harmful chemicals in fish?

What health problems can chemicals cause?

How can I know which fish are safe to eat?  

How should I clean and cook fish?

Why go fishing?

Do you eat wild game from Bay, Midland, and/or Saginaw counties?

What game has been tested?

What health problems may be caused by these chemicals

Where do I find more information on wild game?                                       

Staff

Michigan Fish Advisory

Why Go Fishing?

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RecipesHooked on Fish, Recipes from the Great Lakes State

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Why Eat Fish?                        Fish are a good source of vitamins, minerals and protein. Eating fish may help prevent heart disease in adults, and the oils found in fish are healthy for babies and children. Most fish are a healthy food choice. However, some have harmful chemicals in them. This is because some of our lakes, rivers and oceans are polluted with chemicals. These may include; polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), mercury and dioxin. Some of these chemicals build up in the fat and meat of fish. Certain fish carry high enough amounts of pollutants to cause health problems if you eat them often.

Who is at greatest risk from harmful chemicals in fish?   Breast-fed babies                                                                                                                                                              Unborn babies                                                                                                                                                                     Women of childbearing age                                                                                                                                               Children under 15 years of age                                                                                                                                            People with ongoing health problems such as heart conditions, thyroid disorders, and immune system disorders.

How can I know which fish are safe to eat? Fish from grocery stores and restaurants:                                                                                                    If you purchase fish, use the Eat Safe Fish brochure to find which fish are safe to eat. Did you know that unlike other chemicals, mercury is in the filet of the fish. It cannot be removed by trimming and cooking. Refer to the Michigan Department of Community Health State Mercury Advisory, as well as the Avoid Mercury in Fish and Seafood Guide. Use the  mercury calculator to find out how much mercury is in the fish you eat. Never eat Shark, Swordfish, Tilefish or King Mackeral. These fish are at the top of the food chain and contain unsafe levels of mercury. What health problems can these chemicals cause? Harm to a child's brain development, which can cause learning disorders and behavioral problems    Decrease in the body's ability to fight off illness                                                                             Cancer                                                                                                                                    Liver damage                                                                                                                        Mercury poisoning   Are locally caught fish safe to eat? Fish from local waters:                                                                                                                                                                    To find out which fish are safe to eat from the Saginaw Bay, read the Saginaw Bay Fish Advisory which is also available in Spanish.  To find out which fish are safe to eat in the Saginaw River and Tittabawassee River read the Saginaw/Tittabawassee River Fish Advisory, which is also available in Spanish. The Michigan Department of Public Health tested fish from the Saginaw Bay, Saginaw & Tittabawassee Rivers and other Michigan waters. As a result the Michigan Fish Advisory was published. The advisory provides detailed information about which fish are safe to eat and how often they can be safely eaten. The advisory is organized according to the fishing location, species and size of the fish. In addition, it is divided into two categories; 1-the general population (men ages 15 + and women of non-childbearing age) and 2-women of child bearing age and children under 15 years old.  Places to catch safe Catfish and Crappies Catfish and crappies are unsafe to eat from the Saginaw Bay, Saginaw River and Tittabawassee River. If you want to fish for catfish or crappies, that have less contamination, fish for them in the Caro Impoundment of the Cass River. Chippewa Landing Community Park, located on M-24 just 1 mile south of M-81 in the Village of Caro, offers shoreline fishing opportunities as well as a launch for small to medium size boats. The park has approximately 1/2 mile of shoreline availabale but some areas are limited due to steep banks. For more information go to www.carovillage.net. Mott Lake and Holloway Reservoir of the Flint River, located just north of Flint, offer excellent channel catfish opportunities. Most of the land surrounding these waters is part of the Genesee County Parks and Recreation system andopen to the public. Go to www.geneseecountyparks.org for more information. Ross Lake, Gladwin County has excellent fishing for crappies and also for channel catfish, and other species. There is a public access site on the west side of M-18 jsut north of the bridge over teh western part of the lake. Directions from Saginaw: Follwo I-75 north to US-10. Take weswtbound US-10 to the M-18 exit near North Bradley, a distance of about 33 miles. Go north on M-1 for about 11 miles to Beaverton. Go just north of town and you will cross a bridge and see the Village Park on your left.  Sanford Lake, Midland County has excellent catfish, crappy and warmwater species. Good spots include the numerous cuts and canals, and under teh US-10 bridge. Directions from Saginaw: Follow I-75 north to US-10 for about 28 miles to the West River road exit, which comes up right after you cross Sanford Lake on US-10. Go south on west River Road for about one mile and watchh for th Safnord Lake Park signs on the left side of the road. Then, follow sign into the park. There is a day use fee.

How should I clean and cook fish to make sure it is safe to eat?   Get full instructions for cleaning and cooking fish in the Eat Safe Fish Brochure. Many chemicals are stored in the fat of the fish. Remove the dark, fatty tissue along the backbone, sides and belly of the fish. Either remove the skin or poke holes in it to allow fat to drain during cooking. Never eat any internal organs of the fish as chemicals will be concentrated in those areas. However, mercury is in the meat of the fish. Check the State Mercury Guide or the Mercury Advisory Fact Sheet.

Why go fishing? Fishing is fun, active and a good way to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. There are several places to launch a boat for fishing and sites for casting from land. The Bay City State Recreation Area has information on fishing around the Tobico Marsh. Photos of the Bay City State Recreation Area are also available. There are many Area fishing locations as well as Pinconning County Park. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment fishing information, including licensing,identification and more. You can find Michigan Fishing Information and locations to fish across the state including State Boat Launch Sites. If you are more Area fishing locations   Pinconning County Park

Do you eat wild game from Bay, Midland and/or Saginaw Counties? Harmful chemicals called dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s) are ound in and around the Tittabawassee and Saginaw Rivers south of Midland. The State of Michigan tested animals from this area and as a result issued a health advisory for wild game taken from areas around the Tittabawassee or Saginaw Rivers.

What game has been tested? ·  Deer                                                                                                                                      ·  Turkey                                                                                                                                 ·  Canada goose                                                                                                                        ·  Wood duck                                                                                                                           ·  Rabbit                                                                                                                                  ·  Squirrel   Not all game has been tested. Other types of game may also have high amounts of PCB and dioxin. The Public Health Advisory for Wild Game provides details on what is safe to eat.

What health problems may be caused by these chemicals? If you eat wild game from the health advisory area, the chemicals can build up in your body and may cause: ·  A decrease in your body’s ability to fight off illness                                                                       ·  Changes in the health of your liver                                                                                             ·  Cancer                                                                                                                                  ·  Damage to the physical, mental, and behavioral development of babies and children

Where do I find more information on wild game? The Eat Safe Wild Game Brochure contains information on game that is safe to eat, how to trim and cook it and where to find more information.  If you have questions about eating safe fish and game, contact the Bay County Health Department at (989) - 895-2012.     What can I do to help clean up local lakes, rivers and streams?   What else is being done to clean up the Saginaw and Tittabawassee Rivers and Saginaw Bay? Region 5 of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is active in the Saginaw area to address Saginaw Bay and River Areas of Concern-Region 5 EPA. In addition, information is available on Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes – Region 5 EPA.

  The purpose of the Eat Safe Fish & Wild Game Program is to provide the public with the knowledge needed to minimize non-occupational site-related chemical exposures with prioritized emphasis on exposures from consumption of fish and wild game particularly by sensitive populations (e.g. women of child-bearing age, young children, and people using local fish and wild game as a source of protein). 

To be accomplished by:

●  Increased awareness about local issues related to fish and wild game consumption, contaminants, and health

● Increased knowledge about exposure pathways

● Increased knowledge how to minimize exposure to site-related hazardous chemicals

 

This information is provided by a Cooperative Agreement among the Michigan Department of Community Health, Bay and Saginaw County Health Departments, the Bay City State Recreation Area and the Environmental Protection Agency.