Mercury in Wisconsin Fish

Mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are the contaminants of greatest concern in Wisconsin's fish. To reduce people's exposure to these contaminants, the state issues advice (in the documents described below) to help you choose what fish to keep as well as how often 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.

The Mercury Advisory Background explains the system that the State of Wisconsin uses to create the Fish Consumption Advisories.

The Questions and Answers section answers many common questions about mercury in Wisconsin's waters and fish.

The "Hook Into Healthy Fish [PDF 73KB]" document is a double-sided handout summarizing general advice for eating fish from all Wisconsin inland waters, and the stronger advice necessary for fish from 92 waters with higher mercury levels.

"Choose Wisely: A Health Guide for Eating Fish in Wisconsin [PDF 441KB]" is a publication that contains in-depth background information on safely eating fish from Wisconsin waters, and incorporates the mercury consumption information found in the separate publication, "Hook into Healthy Fish".

These documents can also be found at the Wisconsin DNR's Fish Consumption Advisory.