Fish Consumption Advisories

The Kentucky Departments for Environmental Protection, Health Services and Fish and Wildlife Resources jointly issue a fish consumption advisory to the public when fish are found contaminated. Trace contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and chlordane are found in some fish in Kentucky. An advisory cautions people about potential health problems that may result from eating fish caught from a particular area. An advisory does not ban eating fish; it is a guide to reduce your risk. This guide provides information on how often fish may be safely eaten. Most fish are healthy to eat and are an excellent source of low-fat protein.

Risks from eating contaminated fish can be reduced by the following:

...fillet the fish, remove the skin and trim all fat

...do not eat fish eggs

...broil, grill or bake the fillets instead of frying or microwaving

...do not eat or reuse juices or fats that cook out of the fish.

Fish consumption advisories are in effect for the following:

1) Statewide: All waters are under advisory for mercury. Women of childbearing age and children 6 years of age or younger should eat no more than one meal per week of freshwater fish. Adult men and other women are not included in the consumption notice.

This is not an emergency as organic mercury can occur naturally in the environment and does not affect swimmers, skiers or boaters. Fish can accumulate these low levels of mercury by eating plankton and other small aquatic creatures.

2) Drakes Creek: All fish from dam on W. Fork at Franklin, Ky. downstream to confluence with Barren River. (PCB)

3) Green River Lake: Carp and channel catfish. (PCB)

4) Little Bayou Creek: All fish from section of creek located in McCracken County. (PCB)

5) Mud River-From Hancock Lake Dam to Wolf Lick Creek - Fish that feed on the bottom, such as catfish, carp, suckers, and freshwater drum, should not be eaten. Game fish such as bass, sunfish and crappie may be eaten, but not more than one meal per month. Women of childbearing age and children should not eat any bottom-feeding fish from this segment of the Mud River, but may eat six meals per year of game fish from this segment of the Mud River.

Mud River-From Wolf Lick Creek to the Green River - Fish that feed on the bottom, such as catfish, carp, suckers, and freshwater drum, may be eaten, but no more than one meal per month. Game fish such as black bass, sunfish, and crappie may be eaten, but not more than one meal per week. Women of childbearing age and children should eat no more than six meals per year of bottom-feeding fish from this segment of Mud River, but may eat one meal per month of game fish from this segment of Mud River.
 

6) Town Branch (Logan County): Fish should not be consumed from any portion of Town Branch. This includes all species and sizes. (PCB)

7) Metropolis Lake (McCracken County): No more than one meal per month of fish should be eaten. (PCB and Mercury)

8) Ohio River, bordering Kentucky: A new method for reporting the fish consumption advisory for the Ohio River has been adopted. Consumption rates for specific fish have been developed based on a meal of 1/2 pound of fish (before cooking) eaten by a 150-pound individual. Following these guidelines and spacing your meals of those fish species will limit your health risks by reducing your total exposure.

A special population category exists for women of childbearing age, children 6 years of age or younger, pregnant and nursing women and women who plan to become pregnant. Those individuals who consume fish from the Ohio River should follow the special population consumption advisories.

Upper Reach (Mouth of the Big Sandy River to Markland L&D):

Middle Reach (Markland L&D to Cannelton L&D):

Lower Reach (Cannelton L&D to Mouth of Ohio River):

Knox Creek (New Advisory) :

There are approximately 7.8 miles of Knox Creek in Pike County, KY.  The headwaters of Knox Creek are located predominantly in Buchanan Co, VA.  A similar fish consumption advisory has been issued in VA for their section of this creek.

Advisory boundaries: 

This fish consumption advisory will include all of Knox Creek from the VA/KY state line to the Tug Fork River.  

Advisory for Knox Creek:

Fishtrap Lake (New Advisory):

Fishtrap Lake is approximately 1100 acres and impounds the Levisa Fork River in Pike County, KY. 

Advisory boundaries: 

This advisory will include the Levisa Fork River from the KY/VA Stateline to the dam on Fishtrap Lake. A similar fish consumption advisory has been issued by VA for a portion of the Levisa fork river in their state. 

Advisory for Fishtrap Lake:

* Neither of these contaminants is associated with the Consol Energy, Inc., brine discharge at Grundy Virginia.