Action
Stop, Check, Enjoy
Eating Safe Fish From Our Waters
Eating fish caught locally in the Cape Fear River is popular as ever, but may not be as safe as in times past. One outgrowth of studying this is a celebration of safe and tasty ways to enjoy the catch. The New Hanover County NAACP, Cape Fear River Watch, Duke University and several other local and regional groups held an informational fair to share the best way to choose and prepare your catch.
Some fish from the Cape Fear River may contain mercury and other contaminants. There is a fish consumption advisory for mercury in fish caught from the Cape Fear River that includes wild-caught catfish, large mouth bass, and striped bass. Farm-raised catfish are not under a mercury advisory. Striped mullet are also under advisory due to elevated levels of hexavalent chromium, and blue crab from the river are under advisory for hexavalent chromium and arsenic.
Watch Chef Dean Neff prepare a low-country boil on WWAY
Listen to the first episode of ‘A Place at the Table’ on WHQR.
- Eating fish is generally healthy: it is good for the heart and brain, and it helps us grow! But, contaminants like mercury can get into certain fish from pollution and harm our health, especially for women ages 15-44 and children under 15. This is because too much mercury in our bodies causes problems with the way that brains grow and develop.
- Eating fish with contaminants won’t make you sick right away, but they can stay in the body a long time and build up if you eat them regularly, even if you eat a small amount each time.
- The North Carolina Department of Health has set mercury specific advisories for the Cape Fear River for wild-caught catfish, largemouth bass, striped bass, striped mullet from the river, and blue crab caught from the river. Farm-raised catfish are not under a mercury advisory.
- Certain sunfish like bluegill are generally lower in mercury.
STOP, CHECK, ENJOY: You can’t tell that a water body is polluted or a fish is polluted by looking at it. So, what should you do?
- Stop! Look for warning (advisory) signs around where you are fishing. Women 15-44 and kids under 15 should not eat catfish or largemouth bass from waters anywhere in NC.
- Check! Everyone should check advisories for all fish from the Cape Fear River. Call your local health department to check fish advisories or ask at a local bait shop if you don’t see any signs.
- Enjoy! Enjoy safer fish once you have checked local advisories. If there has not been testing for contaminants near your favorite fishing spot, follow these general rules of thumb (S.A.F.E) developed by the Michigan Department of Health:
- Smaller, younger fish are better
- Avoid large predator fish and bottom feeders
- Fillet and remove fat whenever possible
- Eat fish baked, broiled, or grilled
The Partners
Duke University Environmental Law & Policy Clinic
Duke University Superfund Research Center
Cape Fear River Watch
New Hanover County Department of Health
New Hanover County NAACP
Members of the Southeast NC Environmental Justice Coalition
Wake Forest School of Medicine
Cape Fear River Watch | 617 Surry Street | Wilmington, NC 28401 | Phone: 910.762.5606
