Did you know? Fish that contain mercury do not look, smell, or taste differently than other fish!Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I eat fish?

Eat smart!  Fish is an excellent low-fat food and a great source of protein, vitamins and minerals.  Fish contain omega-3 fatty acids and oils that are hard to get from other types of food.  Eating fish can help children develop properly and even boost the health of adults.  In fact, eating fish regularly can reduce your chances of having a stroke or a heart attack.  To get all the benefits from fish, experts say that you eat at least two meals of fish each week.   And since fish is quick and easy to prepare, why not start enjoying it today?

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What is an advisory?

Fish consumption advisories help you fish smart!  Advisories give you information to help you decide where to fish, which fish to keep, and how much fish to eat.  An advisory will list a lake, stream, or river and will list the types of fish that are unsafe in that area.  Advisories have been issued by DHEC in South Carolina since 1976. 

Many lakes, streams, and rivers in South Carolina do not have advisories.  These waterbodies are shown in dark gray on the map.  Also, not all types of fish are unsafe where there is an advisory.  There are often fish listed that have "no restrictions."  This means that it is okay to eat those fish as often as you like.  

Remember that fishing smart also means fishing legally.  You will need a valid SC fishing license in order to fish in all public lakes, rivers, and streams.  Visit Department of Natural Resources (DNR's) Website to find out where to buy a license or to order one online.

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Why do we have advisories?

To make sure that the fish you catch are safe to eat, DHEC tests fish from lakes, rivers, streams, estuaries, and offshore waters all over South Carolina.  Some saltwater fish samples are collected by both DHEC and DNR.  All samples are tested for chemicals to see if any of the fish are contaminated. 

In South Carolina, mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and radioisotopes have been found in some fish.  DHEC looks closely at the data and then issues fish consumption advisories where contaminated fish have been found.  The danger from these contaminants is only in the fish.  This means you can still enjoy water activities like boating, skiing, swimming, and even recreational fishing.

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Why are some fish not safe? 

Harmful materials can get into our environment in many ways.  These materials end up in lakes, rivers, and streams where they can contaminate plants and animals, like fish, that live in the water.  Contaminants get into fish through the plants and animals that they eat.  Some of these chemicals absorb directly into the body of a fish.  Older and larger fish have eaten more and been in the water longer, so there may be more contaminants in their bodies.  When you eat these fish, the contaminants get into your body too.

Your body naturally removes small amounts of these materials.  Health problems may happen when there are too many harmful chemicals in the body.  Babies and children are more at risk because their bodies are still developing.  Women who are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are nursing should be very careful about the fish that they eat.  These women should not eat any fish where there is an advisory.

Mercury, PCBs, and radioisotopes are the main contaminants in South Carolina.  Let's take a closer look at each one of these.

Mercury is an element that is found naturally in the environment.  Burning coal and other fossil fuels adds the most mercury to the environment.  But things like factories and even the burning of trash can increase the mercury in the environment, too. Mercury in the air is brought back to the earth by rain, snow, and sleet and ends up in our lakes and rivers.
           
Mercury in a mother's body can harm her unborn baby. Brain damage, blindness, seizures and other problems can occur in the baby. Children who take in mercury after they are born can be harmed, too. They can have digestive problems, kidney damage and problems with their nervous systems.  Health problems due to mercury in children and unborn babies cannot always be fixed.  Pregnant women, women planning to become pregnant, infants, and children under 14 should not eat any fish containing mercury.
           
In adults, mercury can make your mouth, hands, or feet tingle or feel numb.  It can also cause vision or hearing problems. If you have any of these symptoms, please see your doctor.  All of these problems in adults can usually be corrected if a person stops eating fish that contain high levels of mercury. 

To learn more about mercury, please visit DHEC's Making Sense of Mercury web page.

PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) are a group of man-made compounds. PCBs do not burn easily and are good insulators.   In the past they were often used as fluids for electrical transformers and in products like cutting oils and carbonless copy paper. The manufacture of PCBs was stopped in 1976, but they are still a problem because PCBs do not break down easily in the environment.  They can remain in the soil at the bottom of a lake or stream for many years.
           
PCBs build up over time in the fatty parts of fish and then get into us when we eat the fish.  PCBs may cause lower birth weight, smaller infant head size, and shorter pregnancies. If pregnant women eat fish containing PCBs, their babies may suffer developmental problems and learning disabilities.
           
Currently, the only fish consumption advisories in South Carolina due to PCB contamination are for Lake Hartwell and its connected waters. You can reduce your exposure to PCBs by the way you prepare the fish. PCBs are found in the fatty parts of fish. By cleaning or cooking fish to reduce fat, you can also reduce the amount of contaminants you eat. Click here for the Lake Hartwell PCB advisory and information on how to cook and clean your fish.  You should still follow the DHEC's advice even if you clean and cook the fish the right way.

Radioisotopes are radioactive forms of an element.  They can occur naturally occurring or be man-made.  Some fish in part of the Savannah River contain the radioisotopes cesium-137 and strontium-90.  The levels of radioisotopes found in these fish are low and have decreased over time.  If you follow the advisory for the Savannah River, the added health risk from these elements is very low.

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How can I reduce the health risks from contaminated fish?

You can reduce the health risks from eating any type fish by following these tips:

Remember:  You cannot remove mercury by any special cleaning or cooking methods.  This is because mercury is stored in the meat of the fish and not the in the fat or skin.  PCBs can be reduced by cooking and cleaning the fish in a certain way.  Click here to learn how to prepare fish with PCBs.

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How much is one meal of fish?

South Carolina's advisories are based on one meal of fish.  One meal is a half-pound or 8 ounces of fish.  This is the weight of the fish BEFORE you cook it.  Eight ounces of raw fish is about the size of two decks of playing cards.

Drawing of a deck of cards    Drawing of a deck of cards

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What about shellfish?

DHEC regularly tests the water in South Carolina's shellfish growing areas for bacteria. This ensures that the oysters, clams, and mussels you collect meet health standards and are safe to eat.  DHEC will close a shellfish bed if the health standards are not met or if conditions have changed to make the shellfish unsafe.  A closed shellfish bed means that it is not only unsafe to eat what you might find, but it is also illegal to gather shellfish in that area.  

Visit DHEC's shellfish website to find out more and to see the status of individual areas.  You can also call DHEC for more information:  for Horry and Georgetown Counties, call (843) 238-4378; for Charleston County, call (843) 740-1590; for Beaufort and Colleton Counties, call (843) 846-1030.

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What about fish that I buy instead of catch?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have issued a national mercury advisory for fish that you buy or catch. This includes fresh, frozen, and canned fish that you buy in a store or restaurant.  The advisory, issued in March 2004, says that women who are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are nursing, and children under 14 should not eat any king mackerel, shark, swordfish or tilefish.  Information on this advisory can be found on   FDA's web site  or EPA's website. You can also call FDA, toll-free, at 1-888-SAFEFOOD for more information.

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Where can I get more information?

For more information on fish consumption advisories, or to request a copy of the advisories or other material,  call DHEC toll-free at 1-888-849-7241.
           
For more information on fishing and SC's Rules and Regulations for fishing and boating, call DNR at (803) 734-3886 or visit DNR's website .  DNR also has a toll-free fishing information hotline, 1-800-ASK-FISH.  Call the hotline to hear the latest fishing reports and to find public landings or where to buy fishing licenses.  Kids can visit www.screelkids.com for information on a free fishing program to earn rewards.

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