Health Advisories
New York
Fishing
2018–2019 New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH)
Advisories for Chemicals in Sportfish
To help people make healthier choices about which fish to eat, the NYS DOH issues advice about eating sportfish (fish you catch). People can get the health benefits of fish and reduce their exposures to chemicals, or contaminants, by following the NYS DOH advice. The advisories tell people which fish to avoid and how to reduce their exposures to contaminants in the fish they do eat.
Types of advice
1) General advice: The general health advice for sportfish is that people can eat up to four, one-half pound meals a month (which should be spaced out to about a meal a week) of fish from New York State fresh waters and some marine waters near the mouth of the Hudson River. If there is no specific advice for a fresh waterbody, follow this general advice.
There is a general advisory because:
- Fish from all waters have not been tested
- Fish may contain unidentified contaminants
- There are some chemicals (such as mercury and PCBs) that are commonly found in NYS fish
2) Specific advice: For some waterbodies in New York, NYS DOH issues stricter advice (eat a limited amount or none at all) because contaminant levels in some fish are higher. The specific advisories for fresh waters and the Hudson River are provided in the Health Advisory tables.
To be more protective, NYS DOH advises that infants, children under the age of 15 and women under age 50 should not eat any fish from many of these waterbodies. Chemicals may have a greater effect on the development of young children or unborn babies. Also, some chemicals may be passed on in mother’s milk.
Health advisories for marine waters
Health advisories for New York State marine waters around New York City and Long Island can be found on the NYS DOH website at: www.health.ny.gov/fish.
Tributaries and connected waters
The specific advice in the following tables applies to tributaries and connected waters if there are no dams, falls, or barriers to stop the fish from moving upstream or downstream. This is because chemicals remain in fish when they move from one waterbody to another.
Visit www.health.ny.gov/fish for the latest advice about eating your catch for all regions in the state.
New fish advisory maps by county
New detailed maps that show health advice for public access waters are available for eight counties: Albany, Dutchess, Orange, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady and Ulster counties. These are the first eight in a series that will be available over time: www.health.ny.gov/fish/maps.htm.
Women under 50 years of age and children under 15 years of age should not eat any fish from the waters listed below. All others should follow the listed advice. Also, see Special Advice on Lake Erie and Niagara River Above Niagara Falls. Advisories with changes are highlighted in red.
| Water (County) | Species | Advice |
| Amawalk Reservoir (Westchester) | Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass over 16″ | 1 meal/month |
| Ashokan Reservoir (Ulster) | Smallmouth Bass over 16″ & Walleye | 1 meal/month |
| Beaver Lake (Lewis) | Chain Pickerel | 1 meal/month |
Beaver River
| Smallmouth Bass | 1 meal/month |
| Big Moose Lake (Herkimer & Hamilton) | Yellow Perch over 10″ and Lake Trout | 1 meal/month |
| Black River (Jefferson) from Carthage State Dam to Herrings Dam | Carp | 1 meal/month |
| Blue Mountain Lake (Hamilton) | Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass over 15″ | 1 meal/month |
| Bog Brook Reservoir (Putnam) | Walleye over 21″ | 1 meal/month |
| Boyd Corners Reservoir (Putnam) | Largemouth Bass over 16″ & Walleye | 1 meal/month |
| Breakneck Pond (Rockland) | Largemouth Bass over 15″ | 1 meal/month |
| Brown Tract Ponds, Upper and Lower (Hamilton) | Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass over 15″ | 1 meal/month |
| Buffalo River/Harbor (Erie) | Carp | Don’t Eat |
| Channel Catfish | 1 meal/month | |
| Canada Lake (Fulton) | Smallmouth Bass over 15″ & Chain Pickerel | 1 meal/month |
| Canadice Lake (Ontario) | Lake Trout over 23″ | Don’t Eat |
| Brown Trout, smaller Lake Trout | 1 meal/month | |
| Cannonsville Reservoir (Delaware) | Smallmouth Bass over 15″ & Yellow Perch | 1 meal/month |
| Carry Falls Reservoir (St. Lawrence) | Walleye | 1 meal/month |
| Cayuga Creek (Niagara) | All species | Don’t Eat |
| Chase Lake (Fulton) | Yellow Perch over 9″ | 1 meal/month |
| Chenango River | Walleye over 22″ | 1 meal/month |
| Chodikee Lake (Ulster) | Largemouth Bass over 15″ | 1 meal/month |
| Cranberry Lake (St. Lawrence) | Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass over 15″ | 1 meal/month |
| Crane Pond (Essex) | Smallmouth Bass over 15″ | 1 meal/month |
| Cross River Reservoir (Westchester) | Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass over 16″ | 1 meal/month |
| Dart Lake (Herkimer) | Yellow Perch over 10″ | 1 meal/month |
| Delaware Park/Hoyt Lake (Erie) | Carp | 1 meal/month |
| Diverting Reservoir (Putnam) | Walleye | 1 meal/month |
| Dunham Reservoir (Rensselaer) | Walleye | Don’t Eat |
| Smallmouth Bass | 1 meal/month | |
| Dyken Pond (Rensselaer) | Largemouth Bass | 1 meal/month |
| East Branch Reservoir (Putnam) | Walleye | 1 meal/month |
| Effley Falls Pond (Lewis) | Chain Pickerel & | 1 meal/month |
| Eighteenmile Creek, above and below Burt Dam (Niagara) | All species | Don’t Eat |
| Elmer Falls Pond (Lewis) | Smallmouth Bass | 1 meal/month |
| Erie Canal Between Lockport and Niagara River (Erie/Niagara) | Carp | 1 meal/month |
| Fall Lake (Hamilton) | Smallmouth Bass over 15″ and Rock Bass | 1 meal/month |
| Ferris Lake (Hamilton) | Yellow Perch over 10″ | 1 meal/month |
| Forked Lake (Hamilton) | Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass, Lake Trout | 1 meal/month |
| Fourth Lake (Herkimer & Hamilton) of Fulton Chain | Lake Trout | Don’t Eat |
| Francis Lake (Lewis) | Chain Pickerel over 20″ | 1 meal/month |
| Franklin Falls Flow/ Pond (Franklin & Essex) | Walleye | Don’t Eat |
| Freeport Reservoir (Nassau) | Carp | 1 meal/month |
| Fresh Pond, Hither Hills State Park (Suffolk) | Largemouth Bass over 15″ | 1 meal/month |
| Goodyear Lake (Otsego) | Walleye over 22″ | 1 meal/month |
| Grant Park Pond (Nassau) | Carp | 1 meal/month |
| Grasse River (St. Lawrence) Mouth to Massena Power Canal | All species | Don’t Eat |
| Great Sacandaga Lake (Fulton, Saratoga) | Smallmouth Bass & Walleye | 1 meal/month |
| Halfmoon Lake (Lewis) | Yellow Perch | 1 meal/month |
| Hall’s Pond (Nassau) | Carp and Goldfish | Don’t Eat |
| Herrick Hollow Creek (Delaware) | Brook Trout | 1 meal/month |
| High Falls Pond (Lewis) | Smallmouth Bass over 15″ | 1 meal/month |
| Hinckley Reservoir (Herkimer & Oneida) | Chain Pickerel and | 1 meal/month |
| Hoosic River (Rensselaer) | Brown Trout over 14″ | 1 meal/month |
| Hudson River | ||
| Indian Lake, Town of Diana/Fort Drum (Lewis) | All species | 1 meal/month |
| Indian Lake—Towns of Indian Lake and Lake Pleasant (Hamilton) | Smallmouth Bass over 15″ | 1 meal/month |
| Irondequoit Bay (Monroe) | See Lake Ontario Advice | |
| Kinderhook Lake (Columbia) | American Eel | 1 meal/month |
| Kings Flow (Hamilton) | Largemouth Bass over 15″ | 1 meal/month |
| Koppers Pond (Chemung) | Carp | 1 meal/month |
| Lake Algonquin (Hamilton) | Chain Pickerel over 20″ | 1 meal/month |
| Lake Capri (Suffolk) | American Eel and Carp | 1 meal/month |
| Lake Champlain (Whole Lake) | Lake Trout over 25″ and Walleye over 19″ | 1 meal/month |
| Follow advice above plus: American Eel | 1 meal/month |
| Lake Durant and Rock Pond, Town of Indian Lake (Hamilton) | Largemouth Bass over 15″ | 1 meal/month |
| Lake Eaton (Hamilton) | Yellow Perch over 10″, | 1 meal/month |
| Lake Ontario (Whole Lake) | Channel Catfish, Carp | Don’t Eat |
| White Sucker, Lake Trout over 25″, Brown Trout over 20″ | 1 meal/month | |
| White Perch | Don’t Eat |
| White Perch | 1 meal/month |
| (Note: harvest/possession of Niagara River, Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River American eel is prohibited per NYSDEC Regulations.) | ||
| Lewey Lake (Hamilton) | Smallmouth Bass over 15″ | 1 meal/month |
| Lewiston Reservoir/Power Reservoir (Niagara) | Carp | Don’t eat |
| Limekiln Lake (Hamilton & Herkimer) | Yellow Perch over 10″ | 1 meal/month |
| Lincoln Pond (Essex) | Largemouth Bass over 15″ | 1 meal/month |
| Loch Sheldrake (Sullivan) | Walleye | 1 meal/month |
| Loft’s Pond (Nassau) | Carp and Goldfish | 1 meal/month |
| Long Lake, Town of Long Lake (Hamilton) | Northern Pike | 1 meal/month |
| Long Pond, Town of Croghan (Lewis) | Splake over 12″ | Don’t Eat |
| Lower & Upper Sister Lakes (Hamilton) | Yellow Perch over 10″ | Don’t Eat |
| Lower Saranac Lake (Franklin) | Smallmouth Bass over 15″ | 1 meal/month |
| Massapequa Reservoir/Upper Massapequa Reservoir (Nassau) | Carp and White Perch | 1 meal/month |
| Massena Power Canal (St. Lawrence) | Smallmouth Bass | 1 meal/month |
| Meacham Lake (Franklin) | Yellow Perch over 12″ | Don’t Eat |
| Smaller Yellow Perch | 1 meal/month | |
| Smallmouth Bass | Don’t Eat | |
| Northern Pike | 1 meal/month | |
| Middle (East) Stoner Lake (Fulton & Hamilton) | Smallmouth Bass over 15″ | 1 meal/month |
| Mohawk River | ||
| Carp | Don’t Eat |
| Largemouth Bass & Tiger Muskellunge | 1 meal/month | |
| Carp | 1 meal/month |
| Moshier Reservoir (Herkimer) | Yellow Perch & | 1 meal/month |
| Mud Creek (Oneida) | Brown Trout, White Sucker | Don’t eat |
| Nassau Lake (Rensselaer) | All species | Don’t Eat |
| Neversink Reservoir (Sullivan) | Brown Trout over 24″ & Smallmouth Bass | 1 meal/month |
| Niagara River | ||
| ||
| Channel Catfish, Carp and White Perch | Don’t Eat |
| White Sucker, Lake Trout over 25″, Brown Trout over 20″ | 1 meal/month | |
| (Note: harvest/possession of Niagara River, Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River American eel is prohibited per NYSDEC Regulations.) | ||
| North Lake—Town of Ohio (Herkimer) | Yellow Perch | 1 meal/month |
| North-South Lake (Greene) | Largemouth Bass over 15″ | 1 meal/month |
| Onondaga Lake (Onondaga) | Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass over 15″, Walleye, Carp, Channel Catfish and White Perch | Don’t Eat |
| Brown Bullhead and Pumpkinseed | 4 meals/month | |
| Smaller Smallmouth Bass, Smaller Largemouth Bass and all other fish not listed | 1 meal/month | |
| Osgood Pond (Franklin) | Smallmouth Bass | 1 meal/month |
Oswego River (Oswego)
| Channel Catfish | 1 meal/month |
| See Lake Ontario Advice | |
| Pepacton Reservoir (Delaware) | Smallmouth Bass over 15″, Brown Trout over 24″ & Yellow Perch over 9“ | 1 meal/month |
| Pine Lake (Fulton) | Largemouth Bass | 1 meal/month |
| Polliwog Pond (Franklin) | Smallmouth Bass | 1 meal/month |
| Raquette Lake (Hamilton) | Largemouth Bass, | 1 meal/month |
| Red Lake (Jefferson) | Walleye | 1 meal/month |
| Ridders Pond (Nassau) | Goldfish | Don’t Eat |
| Rio Reservoir (Orange & Sullivan) | Smallmouth Bass over 15″ | 1 meal/month |
| Rock Pond and Lake Durant—Town of Indian Lake (Hamilton) | Largemouth Bass over 15″ | 1 meal/month |
| Rollins Pond (Franklin) | Smallmouth Bass | 1 meal/month |
| Rondout Reservoir (Sullivan & Ulster) | Smallmouth Bass over 16″ | 1 meal/month |
| Round Pond—Town of Long Lake (Hamilton) | Yellow Perch over 12″ | 1 meal/month |
| Rushford Lake (Allegany) | Walleye | 1 meal/month |
| Russian Lake (Hamilton) | Yellow Perch over 9″ | 1 meal/month |
| Sacandaga Lake (Hamilton) | Smallmouth Bass | 1 meal/month |
| St. Lawrence River | ||
| Carp, Channel Catfish | Don’t Eat |
| White Perch, White Sucker, Lake Trout over 25″, Brown Trout over 20″ | 1 meal/month | |
| All species | Don’t Eat |
| (Note: harvest/possession of Niagara River, Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River American eel is prohibited per NYSDEC Regulations.) | ||
Salmon River (Oswego)
| Smallmouth Bass | 1 meal/month |
| (and Lake Ontario Advice) | ||
| Salmon River Reservoir (Oswego) | Largemouth & | 1 meal/month |
| Sand Lake—Town of Arietta (Hamilton) | Chain Pickerel | 1 meal/month |
| Sauquoit Creek (Oneida) Mohawk River to Old Silk Mill Dam (near New Hartford/Paris town line) | Brown Trout, | Don’t Eat |
| Saw Mill River (Westchester) | American Eel | 1 meal/month |
| Schoharie Reservoir (Delaware, Greene and Schoharie) | Smallmouth Bass over 15″ & Walleye over 18″ | Don’t Eat |
| Smaller Smallmouth Bass & smaller Walleye | 1 meal/month | |
| Schroon Lake (Warren and Essex) | Lake Trout over 22″, Yellow Perch over 13″ and Smallmouth Bass over 15″ | 1 meal/month |
Seneca River (Onondaga)
| See Onondaga Lake advisories | |
| Sheldrake River (Westchester) | American Eel | Don’t Eat |
| Goldfish | 1 meal/month | |
Skaneateles Creek (Onondaga)
| Brown Trout over 10″ | 1 meal/month |
| Smith Pond at Rockville Centre (Nassau) | White Perch | 1 meal/month |
| Smith Pond at Roosevelt Park (Nassau) | American Eel | Don’t Eat |
| Carp and Goldfish | 1 meal/month | |
| Soft Maple Dam Pond and Soft Maple Reservoir (Lewis) | Rock Bass & Smallmouth Bass | 1 meal/month |
| South Pond—Town of Long Lake (Hamilton) | Yellow Perch over 10″ | 1 meal/month |
| Spring Lake – Middle Island (Suffolk) | Carp and Goldfish | Don’t Eat |
| Spy Lake (Hamilton) | Smallmouth Bass over 15″ | 1 meal/month |
| Stark Falls Reservoir (St. Lawrence) | Northern Pike over 26″ | Don’t eat |
| Stillwater Reservoir (Herkimer) | Yellow Perch over 9″, | 1 meal/month |
| Sunday Lake (Herkimer) | Chain Pickerel | Don’t Eat |
| Yellow Perch over 10″ | 1 meal/month | |
| Susquehanna River | Walleye over 22″ | 1 meal/month |
| Swinging Bridge Reservoir (Sullivan) | Walleye | 1 meal/month |
| Threemile Creek (Oneida) | White Sucker | 1 meal/month |
| Titicus Reservoir (Westchester) | White Perch | 1 meal/month |
| Tupper Lake (Franklin & St. Lawrence) | Smallmouth Bass & Walleye | 1 meal/month |
| Unadilla River | Walleye over 22″ | 1 meal/month |
| Union Falls Flow/Pond (Clinton, Franklin) | Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, and Walleye | 1 meal/month |
| Upper & Lower Sister Lakes (Hamilton) | Yellow Perch over 10″ | Don’t Eat |
| Upper Chateaugay Lake (Clinton) | Smallmouth Bass over 15″ | 1 meal/month |
| Upper Twin Pond (Nassau) | American Eel & Carp | 1 meal/month |
Valatie Kill
| All species | Don’t Eat |
| American Eel, Bluegill and Redbreast Sunfish | 1 meal/month |
| Weller Pond (Franklin) | Northern Pike | 1 meal/month |
| West Branch Reservoir (Putnam) | Walleye | 1 meal/month |
| Whitney Park Pond (Nassau) | Carp and Goldfish | 1 meal/month |
| Willis Lake (Hamilton) | Smallmouth Bass | 1 meal/month |
| Woods Lake (Hamilton) | Smallmouth Bass over 15″ | 1 meal/month |
| Women under 50 years of age and children under 15 should not eat any fish from the Hudson River | |||
| Location (chemicals of concern) | Don’t Eat | Eat up to one | Eat up to four |
| Upstream from Corinth Dam (mercury) | Follow Adirondack Region Advice | ||
| Corinth Dam to Dam at Route 9 Bridge in South Glens Falls (mercury and PCBs) | Smallmouth Bass over 14″ and Carp | All other fish species | |
| Dam at Route 9 Bridge in South Glens Falls to Hudson Falls Dam at Bakers Falls (PCBs) | All fish species | ||
| Hudson Falls Dam at Bakers Falls to Federal Dam at Troy (PCBs) | Catch and release fishing only per NYS Department of Environmental Conservation regulations. Take no fish. Eat no fish. | ||
| Federal Dam at Troy to Rip Van Winkle Bridge at Catskill (PCBs) | All other fish species not listed at right (including Striped Bass and Walleye) | Alewife, Blueback Herring, Rock Bass and | |
| South of Rip Van Winkle Bridge at Catskill (PCBs in fish and cadmium, dioxin and PCBs in crabs) (Note: harvest/possession of Hudson River American eel for food and American shad is prohibited per NYSDEC regulations) | Channel catfish, Gizzard shad, White catfish, Walleye, Crab hepatopancreas and crab cooking liquid* | Atlantic Needlefish, Bluefish, Brown Bullhead, Carp, Goldfish, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Smelt, Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass, White Perch | All other fish species Blue crab meat* (six crabs per meal) |
| Fish Testing for Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFCs) | |
| Water (County) | Advice |
| Effective 7/24/17: Preliminary results indicate that fish from some waters in Newburgh and Hoosick Falls have elevated levels of PFCs, compared to fish from other waters. Until testing is complete, NYS DOH recommends that people who fish these waters return their catch. Visit health.ny.gov/fish/hv for updates on these waters. |
Adirondack and Catskill Region Advice for Women and Children
Some fish in the Adirondack and Catskill Region have higher levels of mercury than in other parts of the state. There is additional advice to limit or not eat certain kinds of fish from these regions for women under 50 and children under 15 because some fish tend to have higher levels of mercury.
- Women under 50 and Children under 15 DO NOT EAT: yellow perch greater than 10″, northern pike, pickerel, walleye, large and smallmouth bass.
- Everyone in the family CAN EAT up to 4 meals/month from Adirondack and Catskill waters of: yellow perch less than 10″, bluegill sunfish, brook trout, bullhead, brown trout, pumpkinseed sunfish, rainbow trout, rock bass and other fish.
Tips for
Healthier Eating
- Choose sportfish from waterbodies that are not listed and follow the advice in this guide.
- When deciding which sportfish to eat, choose smaller fish, consistent with DEC regulations, within a species since they may have lower contaminant levels. Older (larger) fish within a species may be more contaminated because they have had more time to accumulate contaminants in their bodies.
- To reduce exposures to mercury, avoid or eat less largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, pickerel, walleye and larger yellow perch (e.g., longer than 10 inches) because these fish tend to have higher mercury levels.
- To reduce exposures to PCBs, dioxin, mirex, DDT, chlordane and dieldrin, avoid or eat less American eel, bluefish, carp, chinook and coho salmon, lake trout, striped bass, weakfish, white and channel catfish, and white perch, because these fish tend to have higher levels of these contaminants.
- When preparing sportfish, use a method of filleting the fish that will remove the skin, fatty material and dark meat. These parts of the fish contain many of the contaminants.
- When cooking sportfish, use cooking methods (broiling, grilling and baking) which allow contaminants from the fatty portions of fish to drain out. Pan-frying is not recommended. The cooking liquids and fat drippings of fish should be discarded since these liquids may contain contaminants.
- Do not eat the soft “green stuff” (mustard, tomalley, liver or hepatopancreas) found in the body section of crab and lobster. This tissue can contain high levels of chemical contaminants, including PCBs, dioxin and heavy metals.
- Anglers who want to enjoy the fun of fishing but who wish to eliminate the potential risks associated with eating contaminated sportfish may want to consider “catch and release” fishing.
- Space out your fish meals so you don’t get too much exposure to chemicals at any given time. This is particularly important for women and young children.
- Bacteria, viruses or parasites may be in or on fish. Keep harvested fish cold. Wear protective gloves when gutting, skinning and filleting. Wash hands and surfaces often when preparing fish, and keep raw foods separate. Cook fish and shellfish thoroughly before eating.
Information About Deformed or Abnormal Fish and Botulism in Fish and Waterfowl
Visit www.health.ny.gov/fish/additional_information.htm.
Good Sanitary Practices While Fishing and Handling Fish
Microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites are in all waters, and can be found on fish and crabs. These microorganisms may come from combined sewer overflows (CSOs), faulty septic systems, and animal waste. After heavy rains, levels of fecal contamination can be higher in waters. Assume that all waters can have fecal contamination even if you can’t see it. While fishing and handling fish, take the following precautions to avoid contact with microorganisms which can make you sick:
Fishing
- If you see raw sewage, avoid fishing. Follow advice on any sewage-related signs.
- Keep your hands away from your mouth, eyes, ears, and nose while fishing and cover open wounds to avoid contact with the water. This reduces the chances of getting sick from microorganisms that can enter your body through these pathways.
- Wash your hands after fishing, especially before eating, and shower if you have had contact with the water.
Handling and Preparing Fish
Fish and crabs, even from waters with high levels of microorganisms, can be eaten if you follow these good hygiene practices:
- Only keep fish that act and look healthy.
- Wear nitrile, rubber or plastic protective gloves while gutting, filleting, and skinning the fish. Avoid directly handling and preparing fish when you have cuts or open sores on your hands.
- Remove and discard the guts (internal organs) soon after harvest, and avoid direct contact with the intestinal contents.
- Keep fish cool (with ice or refrigerated below 45°F or 7°C) until filleted and then refrigerate or freeze.
- Wash hands, utensils, and work surfaces before and after handling any raw food, including fish.
- Unlike PCBs, mercury and other chemicals, most microorganisms can be destroyed by cooking. Cook fish thoroughly until internal temperature is 145°F or until flesh is pearly and opaque and separates easily with a fork.
Additional Information
New York State Department of Health
518-402-7800
800-458-1158
e-mail BTSA@health.ny.gov
For more information on contaminant levels in sportfish, contact:
NYS DEC, Bureau of Habitat
518-402-8920
Attention Anglers: Avoid Areas Containing Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)
Consuming fish from areas with HABs may be harmful to your health.
- Avoid areas that appear discolored, paint-like, or have the color of pea soup.
- Don’t eat fish caught in these areas.
- Rinse with clean water if exposed to HABs.
For more information about HABs and fish consumption visit: www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/77118.html and www.health.ny.gov/fish.