Fish Consumption Advisories

Fishing Wisconsin

Wisconsin Fish

Fish Consumption Advisories

Choose Wisely for Safe Eating

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Fishing is a great Wisconsin tradition. So is eating your catch. Fish are a good, low-cost, low-fat source of nutrition. But some fish may take in contaminants from the water they live in and the food they eat. Some of these contaminants build up in the fish -- and in humans -- to levels that can pose a health risk.

Mercury and PCBs are the contaminants of greatest concern in fish prompting recommendations that people limit or avoid eating certain species of fish from many waters throughout the nation. To reduce your exposure to these contaminants, Wisconsin provides advice to help you choose what fish and how much fish to eat. This information is not intended to discourage you from eating fish, but should be used as a guide to eating fish low in contaminants.

General Statewide Safe-Eating Guidelines

These guidelines apply to fish from most of Wisconsin's inland (non-Great Lakes) waters. Additional special advice applies to some locations (see below).

safe eating guidelines


Click on map to enlarge

Click on map to enlarge

Distribution of waters where additional special consumption advice applies.

Special Advice Waters

Special advice is necessary for some species of fish from 148 waters where fish have higher concentrations of mercury or PCBs. Measure your fish from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail and follow the advice appropriate for the species of fish and length. If the waterbody or fish species does not appear in the special tables, follow the safe-eating guidelines from above.

  • See the 2009 mercury advisory [PDF 83KB] tables for a list of waters (by county) where additional special advice applies to waters due to higher concentrations of mercury. These waters are highlighted in blue on the map
  • See the 2009 PCB advisory [PDF 241KB] tables for a list of waters (by name) where special advice applies due to PCBs. These waters are shown in green on the map and include Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Green Bay, and several larger rivers.

Choose Wisely

The DNR's current fish consumption advisories are also available in Choose Wisely: A Health Guide for Eating Fish in Wisconsin [PUB-FH-824, PDF 1.06MB].

If you are unable to download the above file, or would like to receive a printed version of the brochure, you can do one of the following:

  • Call the Bureau of Fisheries Management at (608) 267-7498 and ask to have a copy sent to you; or
  • Send an e-mail to the Bureau of Fisheries Management requesting a copy of the brochure. Please be sure to include your full name, address, city, state and zipcode.
  • Contact your local DNR office or health department to request a free copy of Choose Wisely;

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Last Revised: Monday August 24 2009