Alabama’s coastal waters, rivers, lakes, and creeks provide endless opportunities for fun, food, and adventure.
Anglers and their families who rely on our waterways for supper need to know where fish are unsafe to eat through better public notification and community outreach.
Help us pass the 2024 Safe & Healthy Outdoor Recreation Act!
Here in Alabama, eating fresh caught fish is a way of life–whether that’s a big fish fry where the whole church or the whole family (or both) come together for a special occasion or a family catching their own supper on a Tuesday night to make it to the next payday.
However, routine testing by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) in partnership with the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) has revealed the need for fish consumption advisories on every major river in Alabama (including those entering our coastal waters), which range from warning pregnant women to avoid certain fish species to warning us all to avoid certain fish altogether.
What is a fish consumption advisory? A fish consumption advisory is a recommendation to limit consumption of a specific fish in a specific waterbody with high concentrations of a specific contaminant.
Currently, Alabama’s state agencies are not required by law to test fish for contaminants or release advisories to the public. Their public outreach - whether a lack of resources or political will - is not meeting the needs of communities that are relying on our waterways for supper.
The SHOR Act would make this program required by law and improve public outreach and engagement.
Wonder if there are fish consumption advisories in your community? Scroll down…
