Smallmouth bass
Brian Gratwicke/Flickr
The Oregon Health Authority is warning people not to eat too much bass. The fish is a top predator, so the longer it lives, the more mercury-contaminated fish it consumes.
David Farrer, a toxicologtist with the Oregon health Authority, said the state lists consumption advisories for 16 locations. “And if you’re just looking at that list, one could make the assumption that a water body that isn’t listed there, that the fish are safe or clean. When in fact, it just means that we most likely just don’t have any data for that lake.”
He said that’s why there’s a statewide bass consumption warning.
The state says people in general shouldn’t eat more than six meals of bass per month, but because developing fetuses are particularly susceptible to mercury poisoning, pregnant women are being advised to limit their consumption to two meals a month.
