Fish Consumption Advisories

There are 14 fish consumption advisories on the Coosa in Alabama as a result of PCB and mercury contamination. Though it is not illegal to eat fish in the areas with advisories, it is strongly discouraged. A list of sections of the Coosa in Alabama with fish consumption advisories is below. A full list of fish consumption advisories in the state of Alabama can be found here. Although Alabama Department of Environmental Management is responsible for catching the fish that are tested, Alabama Department of Public Health analyzes the fish tissue samples and publishes the advisories. The advisories are considered controversial by some due to the unusual nature by which ADPH determines what sections of stream are safe for fish consumption. For example, the fish consumption advisories do not consider the seasonal migration of fish. It is also quite difficult to look at the table (as seen below) and interpret just exactly where it is and is not safe to consume your catch.

The striped bass, seen here, was caught on Lay Lake. This bass is considered unsafe for consumption. It was one of 5 striped bass caught by Coosa Riverkeeper on this day during a March 2011 paddle down 160 miles of the Coosa River.