Advisories: Avoid Carp, Catfish Eel Caught In Potomac, Anacostia; Limit Bass, Bullhead, Sunfish

[hatrack]

WASHINGTON - If you're thinking about fishing in area waterways, you need to be aware that there are some fish that you can't eat. olychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other chemical contaminants continue to be found in certain fish species caught in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. They are found in parts of the Anacostia and Potomac rivers.

PCBs, which haven't been manufactured since the 1970s, are in the sediments of the Potomac, says Joe Hoffman, executive director of the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin. Long-term exposure to potentially carcinogenic PCBs can result in respiratory and gastrointestinal problems, as well as developmental problems, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The D.C. Department of Health says you should avoid bottom-feeding fish -- catfish, carp and eel -- caught in the Potomac and Anacostia rivers and their tributaries. Virginia's advisorys for catfish or carp caught in the Potomac and its tributaries extend to the following areas: Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County and King George County.

You can eat largemouth bass, but D.C. suggests limiting intake to a half-pound per month. A half-pound per week is the suggested maximum for sunfish. The Maryland Department of Health warns that you should not eat carp caught in the state's portion of the Anacostia. Eel and catfish are OK, but you should limit your consumption to one serving every other month. Servings of brown bullhead, largemouth bass and sunfish caught in this area should be limited to two a month.

EDIT

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=768&sid=1446064

[frog92969]

1. There's fish in the Potomac and Anacostia?!

When I played there in the 80's they were liquid filth.
Who would eat from there?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

3. A lot of poor people

That's where they get dinner, fishing the Potomac and Anacostia rivers.

[halobeam]

2. Just another essential thing we need... our damn water and food supply needs clean up!

Looted by our own government, no money to spend in restoring our earth. Our kids won't have anything safe left to eat or drink.

Lifespan will shrink back down; maybe that'll be the brighter side, come that day.

Just makes me PAST angry. :grr:

[DCKit]

4. There are advisories on eating fish from nearly every body of water in the U.S.

I've checked the fisheries websites.