Fish Consumption Advisories

Important health information for people eating fish from Wisconsin waters is provided on this page. Fishing is a great Wisconsin tradition. So is eating your catch. Fish are a good, low-cost, low-fat source of nutrition. But some fish may take in contaminants from the water they live in and the food they eat. Some of these contaminants build up in the fish -- and in humans -- to levels that can pose a health risk.

Mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are the contaminants of greatest concern in Wisconsin's fish. To reduce people's exposure to these contaminants, the state provides advice to help you choose what fish and how much fish to eat. This information is not intended to discourage you from eating fish, but should be used as a guide to eating fish low in contaminants.

Some fish contain elevated levels of contaminants as a result of historical, and in some cases, ongoing pollution by humans. Small organisms absorb these contaminants in the water, and are in turn eaten by small fish. Big fish eat small fish, and in this way, the contaminants accumulate up the food chain so that top level predators such as walleye and bass contain the highest amounts of contaminants.

Since the 1970's, the state has aggressively tested fish from Wisconsin's waters. Fish consumption advisories for specific waterbodies are issued when fish are found to contain contaminants at levels that may pose health risks to people who eat fish.

Since 2001, Wisconsin has provided statewide consumption advice that applies to most of Wisconsin's inland waters, in addition to special advice for specific waterbodies. For more information please see the General Statewide Advice.

What is the advice for your fish?

First, read the safe-eating guidelines below. These guidelines apply to fish from most of Wisconsin's inland (non-Great Lakes) waters. Then check the 2008 mercury and PCB advisory table links below to see if additional, special advice applies to your fishing spot.

Additional, special advice is necessary for some species of fish from 144 waters where fish have higher concentrations of mercury or PCBs.

Distribution of waters where additional special consumption advice applies. Mercury waters are in counties highlighted in blue, PCB waters are shown as green rivers and lakes.

• See the 2008 mercury advisory [PDF 83KB] tables for a list of waters (by county) where special advice applies to waters due to higher concentrations of mercury. These waters are found in the counties highlighted in blue on the map
• See the 2008 PCB advisory [PDF 241KB] tables for a list of waters (by name) where special advice applies due to PCBs. These waters are shown in green on the map and include Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Green Bay, and several larger rivers.

Measure your fish from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail and follow the advice appropriate for the species of fish and length.

If the waterbody or fish species does not appear in the special tables, follow the safe-eating guidelines from above.

Choose Wisely

The DNR's current fish consumption advisories are availiable in Choose Wisely: A Health Guide for Eating Fish in Wisconsin [PUB-FH-824, PDF 1.06MB].

If you are unable to download the above file, or would like to receive a printed version of the brochure, you can do one of the following:

• Call or write your local DNR Service Center or local health department to request a free copy of Choose Wisely;
• Call the Bureau of Fisheries Management at (608) 267-7498 and ask to have a copy sent to you; or
• Send an e-mail to the Bureau of Fisheries Management requesting a copy of the brochure. Please be sure to include your full name, address, city, state and zipcode.