Eat Fish, Choose Wisely
Fish is good for you and part of a healthy diet. Understanding the health benefits of fish along with concerns over contamination such as mercury can be confusing. The key is to make smart choices. Choose fish that are low in mercury and other contaminants. Our advice is, “Eat fish, be smart, choose wisely!”
Tips to Reduce Contaminants
- Remove skin, organs, and fat before cooking
- Eat a variety of fish
- Eat younger and smaller fish (within legal limits)
Current Advisories
Chart below is partial list of advisories.
Although fish is a healthy part of our diet, there are 49 advisories in Washington State because of contaminants. We recommend you eat at least two fish meals per week and choose wisely. Eat a variety of fish that are low in contaminants. The chart below is not a complete list of all advisories in Washington. Most advisories in our state include fish that are good to eat, including 24 healthy fish choices!
- Before you fish, check advisories at
http://www.doh.wa.gov/fishmap or call 1-877-485-7316. - More information including advice for women and children
www.doh.wa.gov/fish .
Green Sturgeon

Olive green to dark green in color. There are approximately 8-11 dorsal scutes. Vent between pelvic fins. Scutes behind vent.
Waterbody |
Fish Species |
Advice |
All waterbodies |
Northern Pikeminnow |
Women of childbearing age and children should not eat |
Columbia River – Middle – Bradford Island (Bonneville Dam to Fort Raines) |
Bass, Bluegill, Carp, Catfish, Crappie, Sucker, Sturgeon, Walleye, Yellow Perch |
Everyone should not eat |
Lower Columbia River (former Vanalco Plant) |
Clams |
Everyone should not eat |
Duwamish River (Lower) |
All resident fish, shellfish and crab |
Everyone should not eat |
Lake Whatcom |
Smallmouth Bass |
Women of childbearing age and children should not eat |
Lake Washington |
Common Carp, Cutthroat Trout, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pikeminnow, and Smallmouth Bass |
Everyone should not eat |
Olympic National Park (Lake Ozette) |
Largemouth Bass, Northern Pikeminnow |
Everyone should not eat |
Spokane River (Idaho Border to Upriver Dam) |
All species |
Everyone should not eat |
Wenatchee River (Icicle Creek to Columbia River) |
Mountain Whitefish |
Everyone should not eat |
White Sturgeon

Gray back shading. There are approximately 11-14 dorsal scutes. Vent behind pelvic fins. No scutes behind vent.