South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

We promote and protect the health of the public and the environment.

• Fish Advisories Home
• Advisories
• Advisory Booklet
• Order a Free Booklet
• Are You at a Greater Risk?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Detailed Map
• Mercury vs. PCBs
• Common Fish in SC
• Brochures
• Radio PSAs
• Changes in Advisories from the previous year
• 2007 Survey Results
• Take Our Short Survey
• Making Sense of Mercury
• FDA's Seafood Advice
• EPA's National Fish Advisory Database
• Fish Advisories for other States
• Fishing games for Kids & Parents

Frequently Asked Questions about Fishing and Eating Smart

 

Why should I eat fish?
What is an advisory?
How does DHEC determine if a waterbody should have an advisory?
What standard does DHEC use when issuing mercury advisories for fish consumption?
Why do we have advisories?
Are Fish Consumption Advisories only in South Carolina?
Why are some fish not safe to eat?
What is a good general rule of thumb to follow?
Who is most at risk?
Why are these groups at a greater risk?
What advice should these high-risk groups follow?
What are the main contaminants effecting fish in South Carolina?
What do I need to know about mercury?
What are the health effects of mercury in my body?
What do I need to know about PCBs?
What are the health effects of PCBs in my body?
What do I need to know about radioisotopes?
How can I reduce the health risks from contaminated fish?
What do I need to know about shellfish in South Carolina to stay safe?
What about fish that I buy instead of catch?
Does DHEC post signs on waterbodies with Fish Consumption Advisories?
What if a waterbody does not have a sign at the access point?
Where can I get more information?

 

Why should I eat fish?

• Low in fat & contains omega-3 fatty acids (boosts heart health)
• It's a great source of protein, vitamins, & minerals
• Eating fish regularly can reduce your chances of having a stroke or heart attack.
• To get all the benefits, you should eat fish at least two meals each week, but
  remember to choose the right types of fish to eat.
• NOTE: Breading & Frying fish decreases health benefits

 

What is an advisory?

• The advisory will list a lake, stream, or river in South Carolina.  Then, it will tell you the type of fish and amount of fish that is safe to eat in that area. 
• If a waterbody or type of fish is not listed in the tables, it means that DHEC has not issued any consumption advice.
• Here are the reasons why DHEC may not issue fish consumption advice (an advisory):
  • The waterbody may not have been sampled.
  • There may not be enough data.
  • The waterbody is privately owned.
• Advisories help you decide:
  • Where to fish
  • Which fish to keep
  • How much fish to eat         
• No Advisories – some lakes, streams, and rivers in South Carolina that have been tested do not have advisories.  Click here to find out which waterbodies have no advisories in South Carolina.
• DON’T FORGET
  You will need a valid South Carolina Fishing license in order to fish in all public lakes, rivers, and streams, including all of the waterbodies listed on this website.
  

 

How does DHEC determine if a waterbody should have an advisory?

• DHEC tests fish from South Carolina's lakes, rivers, streams, estuaries, and offshore waters.
• Some saltwater fish samples are collected by both DHEC and DNR.
• All samples are tested for chemicals to see if any of the fish are contaminated.
• DHEC looks closely at the data and then issues fish consumption advisories where contaminated fish have been found.

 

What standard does DHEC use when issuing mercury advisories for fish consumption?

Fish Tissue Mercury Levels	Advisory
0-0.24 ppm	No Restrictions
0.25-0.66 ppm	1 Meal a Week
0.67-0.99 ppm	1 Meal a Month
>= 1.0 ppm	Do Not Eat Any

Note:

• This standard does not apply to those in the high risk group: babies, children under 14, and women who are pregnant, nursing, or in childbearing years.
• Click here to learn about DHEC's recommendations for those at high risk.

 

Why do we have advisories?

• DHEC issues advisories to help ensure that the fish you catch are safe to eat.

 

Are fish consumption advisories only in South Carolina?

• South Carolina is not alone. Most states have issued fish consumption advisories. To look at other states’ advisories, go to http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/states.htm.

 

Why are some fish not safe to eat

What is a good general rule of thumb to follow

 

Who is most at risk?

• Babies
• Children under 14
• Women in childbearing years
• Women who are nursing
• Women who are pregnant

 

Why are these groups at a greater risk?

• Developing bodies, such as infants and small children, are at a greater risk since their brains and nervous systems are still developing.
• The body naturally removes small amounts of contaminants, like mercury.
• These contaminants can build up in our bodies if too much of these contaminants are being consumed.
• Health problems can occur when there are too many harmful contaminants in the body.

 

What advice should these high-risk groups follow?

• Do not eat any fish where there is an advisory.
• Those at high-risk should only eat one meal of freshwater fish each week.
• Do NOT eat any king mackerel, shark, swordfish, or tilefish.

NEED MORE INFO?

 

What are the main contaminants effecting fish in South Carolina?

• Mercury
• PCBs (found only in Lake Hartwell)
• Radioisotopes (found only in the Savannah River in very small amounts)

 

What do I need to know about mercury?

• Mercury in the environment comes from natural sources and from pollution.
• The largest sources of pollution have been from decades of burning fossil fuel (like coal) and waste.
• Mercury builds up in the tissue or muscle of the fish (part that we eat).
• It can also build up in our tissues when we eat fish contaminated with mercury.
• The danger is only in eating the fish, which means you can still enjoy water activities like swimming, boating, and other recreational activities.
• Our risk from mercury depends on how much and how often we eat certain types of fish.
• Mercury in fish is an issue for the whole nation, not just South Carolina.

 

 

What are the health effects of mercury in my body?

• In unborn and young babies
  • Brain damage
  • Blindness
  • Seizures
• In children under 14
  • Digestive problems
  • Kidney damage
  • Problems with their nervous systems
• In adults
  • Mouth, hands, or feet may tingle or feel numb
  • Cause vision or hearing problems

IMPORTANT NOTES

• Health problems due to mercury in children and unborn babies cannot always be corrected.
• All of these problems in adults can usually be corrected if a person stops eating fish that contain high levels of mercury.
• If you are concerned about the amount of mercury in your body, see your doctor.

 

What do I need to know about PCBs?

• Lake Hartwell and its connected waters is the only location in South Carolina that has PCB contamination.
• PCB stands for polychlorinated biphenyls.
• Man-made compounds; banned in 1976
• PCBs were often used as fluids for electrical transformers and products like cutting oils & carbonless copy paper.
• PCBs remain a problem today because they do not break down easily in the environment.
• PCBs build up over time in the fatty parts of the fish.
• PCBs can also build up in our bodies.
• By cleaning or cooking fish to reduce fat, you can reduce the amount of PCBs you eat.
• You should still follow the Fish Consumption Advisories even if you clean and cook the fish the right way.
• Click here to find out how to cook & clean your fish to reduce PCBs.

 

What are the health effects of PCBs in my body?

If pregnant women eat fish containing PCBs, their babies may suffer from:

• Lower birth weight
• Smaller infant head size
• Premature births
• Developmental problems and learning disabilities

 

What do I need to know about radioisotopes?

• Radioisotopes are radioactive forms of an element.
• Occur naturally or can be man-made
• Some fish found in the Savannah River may contain radioisotopes, cesium-137 and strontium-90.
• Levels of radioisotopes found in these fish in South Carolina are low and have decreased over time.
• If you follow the advice for the Savannah River, the added health risk from these elements is very low.

 

How can I reduce the health risks from contaminated fish?

You can reduce the health risks from any type of fish by following these tips:

• Do not eat more fish than the advisories recommend.
• Eat fish from lakes and rivers that do not have advisories.
• Eat smaller fish and smaller amounts of fish.
• Eat different types of fish instead of just one type.
• Clean and cook your fish the right way (only helps reduce PCBs).
• Enjoy fishing by catching and releasing the fish instead of eating them.

 

What do I need to know about shellfish in South Carolina to stay safe?

• DHEC regularly tests the salt waters containing shellfish beds for bacteria.
• If health standards are not met, or if conditions have changed to make the shellfish unsafe, DHEC will close the shellfish bed.
• A closed shellfish bed means that it is unsafe to eat and illegal to collect the shellfish in that area.
• Testing ensures that the oysters, clams, and mussels you collect and eat in South Carolina salt waters are safe.

NEED MORE INFO?

• For more information on DHEC Shellfish program, visit at: www.scdhec.gov/shellfish.
• For shellfish closure updates, call 1-800-285-1618.

 

What about fish that I buy instead of catch?

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have issued a national mercury advisory for fish that you buy.
• The advisory includes fresh, frozen, and canned fish that you buy at a store or restaurant.
• EPA and FDA advice for women in the high-risk group:
  • Do not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish
  • Eat up to 12 ounces (2 avg meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury
  • Check local advisories in your state for fish caught by your family and friends.
  • Follow the same advice when feeding fish and shellfish to young children only serve them a smaller portion.

  NEED MORE INFO about store bought fish?

• Visit FDA’s web site at: www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/seafsafe.html
• Or call their toll-free information line at 1-888-SAFEFOOD
• Visit EPA’s web site at: www.epa.gov/ost/fish 

 

Does DHEC post signs on waterbodies with fish consumption advisories?

• Yes, DHEC does post signs on public boat landings that are access points to the waterbody under advisory.

 

What if a waterbody does not have a sign at the access point?

• Here are reasons why there may not be a sign at the access point to a waterbody:
  • There is no advisory
  • The waterbody has not been tested
  • The sign has been vandalized or damaged
• Always refer to DHEC's Fish Consumption Advisory website (www.scdhec.gov/fish) or booklet for the most accurate information on whether a waterbody is under advisory.

 

Where can I get more information?

• For SC Fish Consumption Advisory web site, go to www.scdhec.gov/fish
• You can also call DHEC’s toll-free number at 1-888-849-7241
• To learn more about mercury, visit www.scdhec.gov/mercury
• For more information on fishing and SC’s Rules and Regulations for fishing & boating, visit DNR’s web site at www.dnr.sc.gov
• Visit http://screelkids.dnr.sc.gov/ for information on a free fishing program for kids.

 

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