2009-2010 Health Advisories on Eating Sportfish--New York City Area, Rockland and Westchester Counties and Long Island, including Marine Waters of New York State
- A copy of the Advisories for New York City Area, Rockland and Westchester Counties and Long Island, Including Marine Waters of New York State (PDF 543KB, 7pg.)
Fish can be good to eat and nutritious. But some fish contain chemicals that may be harmful to health. The New York State Department of Health (DOH) issues advice on eating fish that people catch in New York State waters.
General Advisory
The DOH general advisory is that you should eat no more than one (one-half pound) meal of fish per week from any of the state's fresh waters, the Hudson River, the Upper Bay of New York Harbor, Arthur Kill, Kill Van Kull, Newark Bay, Raritan Bay west of Wolfe's Pond Park, Harlem River and the East River.
Specific Advisories
Many waters have even stricter, specific advisories because elevated contaminant levels have been found in their fish. This brochure provides these specific advisories for only part of New York State (see map). Specific fish advisories apply to many other state waters, including the Hudson River north of Catskill. For a statewide advisory list and additional information, you should get the free DOH booklet -- Health Advisories: Chemicals in Sport Fish and Game (see contact info at end of brochure).
DOH recommends that women of childbearing age and children under the age of 15 not eat any fish from specific waterbodies included in the advisory list (includes waters listed in Tables 1 and 3). This is because chemicals may have a greater effect on developing organs in young children or in the unborn child. Chemicals also can build up in women's bodies and are often passed on in mother's milk.
2009-2010 Fish Advisory Waters in the New York City Area, Rockland and Westchester Counties and Long Island
| Women of childbearing age and children under the age of 15 should EAT NO fish of any species from the waters listed below. Other people should follow listed advice. Numbers in parentheses indicate waterbody location on map. | ||||
| Water | Eat None | Eat no more than one meal per month | Eat no more than one meal per week | East no more than 6 crabs per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hudson River - South of Catskill (2) (Note: harvest/possession of Hudson River American eel for food is prohibited per NYSDEC regulations) |
Channel catfish Gizzard shad White catfish Hepatopancreas ("the green stuff" also known as mustard, tomalley, liver) of lobster and crab & cooking liquid |
Atlantic needlefish Bluefish Brown bullhead Carp Goldfish Largemouth bass Rainbow smelt Smallmouth bass Striped bass Walleye White perch |
All other fish species not listed | Blue crab |
| Upper Bay of New York Harbor - North of Verrazano Narrows Bridge (11) | Gizzard shad White perch Hepatopancreas ("the green stuff" also known as mustard, tomalley, liver) of lobster and crab & cooking liquid |
American eel Atlantic needlefish Bluefish Rainbow smelt Striped bass |
All other fish species not listed | Blue crab |
| East River – to the Throgs Neck Bridge (9) & Harlem River (8) | American eel Gizzard shad Hepatopancreas ("the green stuff" also known as mustard, tomalley, liver) of lobster and crab & cooking liquid |
Atlantic needlefish Bluefish Rainbow smelt Striped bass White perch |
All other fish species not listed | Blue crab |
| Newark Bay (10), Arthur Kill (13) & Kill Van Kull (12) | American eel Gizzard Shad Striped bass White perch Hepatopancreas ("the green stuff" also known as mustard, tomalley, liver) of lobster and crab & cooking liquid |
Atlantic needlefish Bluefish Rainbow smelt |
All other fish species not listed | Blue crab |
| Raritan Bay West of Wolfe's Pond Park (14) | White perch Hepatopancreas ("the green stuff" also known as mustard, tomalley, liver) of lobster and crab & cooking liquid |
Striped bass | All other fish species not listed | Blue crab |
| Population | Advice |
|---|---|
| Women of childbearing age and children under the age of 15 | Eat no weakfish greater than 25 inches Eat no more than one meal per month of American eel, striped bass, bluefish greater than 20 inches, and smaller weakfish Eat no more than one meal per week of smaller bluefish |
| Women beyond childbearing age and adult males | Eat no more than one meal per month of weakfish greater than 25 inches Eat no more than one meal per week of American eel, bluefish, striped bass and smaller weakfish. |
| Everyone | The hepatopancreas ("the green stuff" also known as mustard, tomalley, liver) found in the body section of crabs and lobsters should not be eaten because it has high contaminant levels. Because contaminants are transferred to cooking liquid, crab or lobster cooking liquid should also be discarded. |
| Women of childbearing age and children under the age of 15 should EAT NO fish of any species from the waters listed below. Other people should follow listed advice and eat no more than one (1/2 pound) meal per week of any fish not listed. | ||||
| Waters | Advice | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amawalk Reservoir (3) (Westchester Co.) | Eat no more than one meal per month of largemouth and smallmouth bass over 16 inches. | |||
| Breakneck Pond (1) (Rockland Co.) | Eat no more than one meal per month of largemouth bass over 15 inches. | |||
| Cross River Reservoir (5) (Westchester Co.) | Eat no more than one meal per month of largemouth and smallmouth bass over 16 inches. | |||
| Freeport Reservoir (22) (Nassau Co.) | Eat no more than one meal per month of carp. | |||
| Fresh Pond (27) (in Hither Hills State Park, Suffolk County | Eat no more than one meal per month of largemouth bass over 15 inches. | |||
| Grant Park Pond (18) (Nassau Co.) | Eat no more than one meal per month of carp. | |||
| Hall's Pond (17) (Nassau Co.) | Eat no carp or goldfish. | |||
| Lake Capri (25) (Suffolk Co.) | Eat no more than one meal per month of American eel and carp. | |||
| Loft's Pond (20) (Nassau Co.) | Eat no more than one meal per month of carp or goldfish. | |||
| Massapequa Reservoir (24) (Nassau Co.) | Eat no more than one meal per month of white perch. | |||
| Ridder's Pond (15) (Nassau Co.) | Eat no goldfish. | |||
| Saw Mill River (6) (Westchester Co.) | Eat no more than one meal per month of American eel. | |||
| Sheldrake River (7) (Westchester Co.) | Eat no American eel and eat no more than one meal per month of goldfish. | |||
| Smith Pond at Rockville Center (19) (Nassau Co.) | Eat no more than one meal per month of white perch. | |||
| Smith Pond at Roosevelt Park (21) (Nassau Co.) | Eat no American eel and eat no more than one meal per month of carp and goldfish. | |||
| Spring Pond (26) (in Middle Island, Suffolk Co.) | Eat no carp or goldfish. | |||
| Titicus Reservoir (4) (Westchester Co.) | Eat no more than one meal per month of white perch. | |||
| Upper Twin Pond (23) (Nassau Co.) | Eat no more than one meal per month of American eel. | |||
| Whitney Park Pond (16) (Nassau Co.) | Eat no more than one meal per month of carp or goldfish. | |||
Cleaning and Cooking Your Fish
Many chemicals are found at higher levels in the fat of fish. You can reduce the amount of contaminants you eat by properly trimming, skinning and cooking your catch. Remove the skin and trim all the fat from the belly flap, the line along the sides, the fat along the back and under the skin (see diagram below). Broil, bake, poach or boil your fish so that the fat drips away. Do not use drippings to prepare sauces or gravies.
Contact and Additional Information
Call DOH toll-free at 1-800-458-1158, ext. 27815 for a free copy of the statewide advisory booklet or for additional information. The booklet is also available on the internet www.nyhealth.gov/nysdoh/fish/fish.htm or you can request the booklet or ask questions by e-mail BTSA@health.state.ny.us