Location

A Guide to Mercury Health Advisories for Eating Fish from New Jersey Freshwaters

Recent research on largemouth bass and chain pickerel in certain freshwater lakes in New Jersey has prompted the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Health to issue consumption advisories due to elevated levels of mercury found in these species. Mercury, a toxic metal, accumulates in fish tissue through the food chain. Since larger fish feed on smaller fish, mercury collects in their fish tissue as well, so that larger fish at the top of the food chain -- such as largemouth bass and chain pickerel -- are more likely to have elevated levels of mercury.

It is very unlikely that the level of mercury found in these fish would cause immediate health effects. However, repeated consumption of contaminated fish poses potential health effects. Of particular concern is the potential effect on the nervous system of developing fetuses.

Although data show elevated levels of mercury in certain fish, it does not affect the quality of the waters used for drinking and bathing.

The chart below provides general and specific information on the statewide and the Pinelands area advisories. The Pinelands area covers much of the seven counties in the southeastern portion of the state: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties. Some, but not all of the water bodies covered under these general advisories have been tested. More testing is underway.

Consumption Advisories for Largemouth Bass and Chain Pickerel from New Jersey Freshwaters

Location	Species	Advisory**
New Jersey Statewide		General Population	High-Risk Individual*
For all freshwater bodies (except those listed below)	bass and pickerel	do not eat more than once a week	do not eat more than once a month
Pinelands Area
For all water bodies (except those listed below)	bass and pickerel	do not eat more than once a month	do not eat
Site-Specific Pinelands
Lake Lenape	bass pickerel	do not eat more than once a month do not eat more than once a week	do not eat do not eat more than once a month
Mirror Lake	bass pickerel	no restrictions no restrictions	do not eat more than once a month do not eat more than once a week
Stafford Forge	bass pickerel	do not eat more than once a month do not eat more than once a week	do not eat do not eat
Wading River	bass pickerel	do not eat more than once a month do not eat more than once a week	do not eat do not eat
Site-Specific Statewide
Assunpink Creek	bass pickerel	no restrictions do not eat more than once a week	do not eat more than once a week do not eat more than once a month
Atlantic City Reservoir - No Fishing Allowed	bass pickerel	do not eat	do not eat
Big Timber Creek	bass pickerel	no restrictions do not eat more than once a week	do not eat more than once a week do not eat more than once a month
Canistear Reservoir	bass pickerel	do not eat more than once a week do not eat more than once a week	do not eat do not eat more than once a month
Clinton Reservoir	bass pickerel	do not eat more than once a week do not eat more than once a week	do not eat do not eat more than once a month
Cranberry Lake	bass pickerel	do not eat more than once a week no restrictions	do not eat more than once a month do not eat more than once a month
Crosswicks Creek	bass pickerel	no restrictions do not eat more than once a week	do not eat more than once a week do not eat more than once a month
Crystal Lake (Burlington County)	bass pickerel	no restrictions do not eat more than once a week	do not eat more than once a week do not eat more than once a month
Delaware River (Easton to Trenton)	bass pickerel	no restrictions do not eat more than once a week	do not eat more than once a month do not eat more than once a month
Delaware River (Trenton to Camden)	bass pickerel	no restrictions do not eat more than once a week	do not eat more than once a week do not eat more than once a month
Lake Carasaljo	bass pickerel	do not eat more than once a week no restrictions	do not eat do not eat more than once a month
Lake Hopatcong	bass pickerel	no restrictions no restrictions	do not eat more than once a month do not eat more than once a month
Manasquan Reservoir	bass pickerel	do not eat more than once a month do not eat more than once a week	do not eat do not eat more than once a month
Merrill Creek Reservoir	bass pickerel	do not eat more than once a week do not eat more than once a week	do not eat do not eat more than once a month
Monksville Reservoir	bass pickerel	do not eat more than once a week do not eat more than once a week	do not eat do not eat more than once a month
Rockaway River	bass pickerel	do not eat more than once a week no restrictions	do not eat more than once a month do not eat more than once a month
Round Valley Reservoir	bass pickerel	no restrictions do not eat more than once a week	do not eat more than once a month do not eat more than once a month
Shadow Lake	bass pickerel	no restrictions do not eat more than once a week	do not eat more than once a week do not eat more than once a month
Spruce Run Reservoir	bass pickerel	no restrictions do not eat more than once a week	do not eat more than once a month do not eat more than once a month
Swartswood Lake	bass pickerel	do not eat more than once a week no restrictions	do not eat more than once a month do not eat more than once a week
Union Lake	bass pickerel	do not eat more than once a month do not eat more than once a month	do not eat do not eat
Wanaque Reservoir	bass pickerel	do not eat more than once a week do not eat more than once a week	do not eat do not eat
Wilson Lake	bass pickerel	do not eat more than once a week do not eat more than once a week	do not eat more than once a month do not eat
Woodstown Memorial Lake	bass pickerel	no restrictions do not eat more than once a week	do not eat more than once a month do not eat more than once a month

* High risk individuals are pregnant women, women planning pregnancy within one year, nursing mothers and children under five years old.