Posted Thursday, May 26, 2005

Most Utah waters free of fish consumption advisories

The level of mercury and other toxins in fish has led to the issuing of fish consumption advisories across the country over the past 30 years.

Fortunately, for Utah anglers, the number of waters in the state with toxin levels high enough to issue advisories is very small.

Of the more than 4,400 miles of fishing rivers and streams in Utah, only 33 of those miles currently have fish consumption advisories issued for them. And advisories have not been issued at any lake or reservoir in Utah where people fish.

The situation in Utah is much different than most other states. In 2003, fish consumption advisories had been issued for a third of the nation's total lake acreage and a quarter of the nation's total river miles.

"The number of waters in Utah with fish consumption advisories is much lower than most states," said Tom Pettengill, sport fisheries coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. "It's another reason Utah anglers have to be excited about fishing in the state."

The only two Utah waters with fish consumption advisories are Silver Creek, which flows from Park City to the Weber River in northern Utah, and the portion of Ashley Creek in northeastern Utah that flows from Vernal to Stewart Lake.

"Neither of these waters are heavily fished," Pettengill said.

The advisories provide guidelines about the amount of fish people should eat from the waters each month. The Utah Department of Health says pregnant or nursing women, and children under 15 years of age, should not eat any fish caught in Ashley Creek.

More information about fish consumption advisories is available on the Web at http://epa.gov/waterscience.