Department of Environment and Climate Change

Fish consumption advisory

Please note that this advisory may be revised as new data becomes available.

POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCBs)

You should not to eat fish from Five Island Lake or Sheldrake Lake. Fish from these lakes are contaminated with PCBs. Scientific research suggests that over a number of years, eating a steady diet of contaminated fish may be harmful to human health.

Catch and release regulations are in place on Five Island Lake, Sheldrake Lake, and other lakes in this area (see Recreational Fishing Area 3 in the Nova Scotia Anglers’ Handbook).

MERCURY

Mercury is a naturally occurring metal in the environment. It was also used in many consumer goods and may still be found in products such as thermometers, mirrors, batteries, electrical switches and fluorescent lights.

Mercury is a concern because it can be toxic to people and other living organisms. It does not break down in the environment and it accumulates in living organisms, such as fish. When people eat these fish, they may have negative health effects.

How much fish is safe to eat?
While there are health benefits to eating fish, there are some species in Nova Scotia that should only be eaten in smaller quantities or not at all if you are at higher risk.

If you eat fish more than four times per month, you should choose smaller size fish, and choose fish like rainbow trout that do not have an advisory in the table below.

		Consumption limit
Species	Fish Length < (measured nose to tail fork)	General Public Over age 12	Women who are or may become pregnant and / or are breast feeding	Children age 5-11	Children age 1-4	Infants (less than 1 year of age)
Rainbow Trout	Any Size	No Advisory	No Advisory	No Advisory	No Advisory	No Advisory
Brook Trout	Under 25 cm (9.8 in)	2 servings per week	1 serving per week	1½ servings per month	3/4 serving per month	½ serving per month
Brook Trout	Over 25 cm (9.8 in)	1 serving per week	1 serving per month	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid
Yellow Perch	Under 20 cm (7.9 in)	1 serving per week	2 servings per month	½ serving per month	Avoid	Avoid
Yellow Perch	Over 20 cm (7.9 in)	1 serving per month	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid
White Perch	Under 25 cm (9.8 in)	2 servings per month	1 serving per month	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid
White Perch	Over 25 cm (9.8 in)	1 serving per month	½ serving per month	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid
Chain Pickerel	Under 35 cm (13.8 in)	2 servings per week	1 serving per week	1½ servings per month	1 serving per month	½ serving per month
Chain Pickerel	Over 35 cm (13.8 in)	2 servings per month	1 serving per month	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid
Smallmouth Bass	Under 35 cm (13.8 in)	3 servings per month	1 serving per month	1½ servings per month	Avoid	Avoid
Smallmouth Bass	Over 35 cm (13.8 in)	2 servings per month	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid
Other freshwater species	Any Size	1 serving per week	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid
1 serving = 75g or 2½oz or 125mL or ½cup of cooked fish (Canada’s Food Guide)

Why are there limits on some fish but not others?

Some fish species eat other smaller fish, so mercury may build up faster in them than it does in fish that eat plants and insects. As a result, fish like smallmouth bass and chain pickerel that eat other fish may have higher mercury levels in their flesh. Larger and older fish also tend to have higher mercury levels because it builds up in their flesh over time.

If there is no fish consumption advisory, it means that either the fish species has not been tested for mercury levels, or it is below human health guidelines for mercury levels.

Health Canada provides more information about mercury in fish

Topics

Department of Environment and Climate Change

Fish consumption advisory