New Fish Consumption Advisory for Galveston Bay

http://www.tpwd.state.tx....sh/consumption_bans/

Please see advisory below for Galveston Bay and Houston Ship Channel.  Limit consumption of speckled trout and any catfish species to 1 ea. 8oz. meal per MONTH.

Testing levels of Dioxins and PCB's in their flesh exceed safe limits.   Apparently, redfish, flounder, blue crab, etc. are okay.  It's mostly for fish with a high body fat content. 

 

Per Texas Dept. of State Health Services, it's best to cut off the skin, don't eat the dark red meat, and don't re-use cooking/frying oil.  Best to bake or broil on a rack where contaminated fats can drip through.

 

Houston/Galveston Area (Chambers and Harris counties)

Galveston Bay including Chocolate Bay, East Bay, West Bay, Trinity Bay and contiguous waters
Chemicals of Concern: Dioxin and Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

• For all catfish species and spotted seatrout, adults should limit consumption to no more than one, 8-ounce meal per month.
• Women who are nursing, pregnant, or who may become pregnant and children should not consume catfish or spotted seatrout from these waters.

Houston Ship Channel upstream of the Lynchburg Ferry crossing and all contiguous water including the San Jacinto River below U.S. Highway 90 bridge
Chemicals of Concern: Dioxin, Organochlorine pesticides, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

• For all species of fish and blue crabs, adults should limit consumption to no more than one, 8-ounce meal per month.
• Women of child-bearing age and children under 12 should not consume any fish or blue crabs from this area.

Houston Ship Channel downstream of the Lynchburg Ferry crossing and all contiguous waters including Upper Galveston Bay north of a line drawn from Red Bluff Point to Five Mile cut Marker to Houston Point
Chemicals of Concern: Dioxin and Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

• For spotted seatrout, blue crabs and all catfish species, adults should limit consumption to no more than one, 8-ounce meal per month.
• Children under 12 and women of childbearing age should not consume spotted seatrout, blue crabs, or any catfish species from this area.