In line with the Arkansas Division of Well being, anglers pursuing walleye on Bull Shoals Lake in Marion, Baxter and Boone counties, and Norfork Lake in Baxter and Fulton counties might wish to take note of the quantity of fish they eat from these lakes. Final week, the ADH issued a fish consumption advisory for big walleye in these two north Arkansas reservoirs.
The advisory comes after walleye examined from these two lakes have been discovered to comprise increased than regular ranges of mercury. The fish have been collected by the Arkansas Sport and Fish Fee and examined by the Arkansas Division of Environmental High quality.
In line with the advisory high-risk teams (pregnant ladies, breastfeeding ladies, ladies planning to be pregnant and kids underneath seven) mustn’t eat walleye 18 inches or longer from these lakes. Ladies who don’t intend to develop into pregnant, males and kids seven years and older ought to eat not more than two meals monthly of walleye 18 inches or longer from these lakes.
This advisory doesn’t have an effect on swimmers, skiers, boaters, catch-and-release actions, or different leisure makes use of and doesn’t restrict the usage of Bull Shoals Lake or Norfork Lake as a consuming water supply.
The ADH has scheduled a February 7 assembly on the Donald W. Reynolds Library in Mountain House starting at 5 p.m. to reply public questions on this advisory. Personnel with AGFC and ADEQ shall be in attendance as effectively to reply questions associated to their roles within the course of.
Greater than 20 Arkansas waterbodies are underneath fish consumption advisories regarding mercury. All 50 states have consumption advisories for no less than one fish species resulting from mercury. Consuming fish with mercury is not going to make individuals sick instantly, however as you eat extra, it may well construct up within the physique and doubtlessly trigger adversarial well being results.
Fish are an essential, low-fat supply of protein. Understanding and following the fish consumption advisories lets you safely maintain fish as an essential a part of your weight loss plan.
For extra details about fish consumption advisories in Arkansas, go to www.wholesome.arkansas.gov and kind ‘mercury’ within the Sensible Search field positioned on the left hand facet of the web page. You might also go to Fish Consumption Advisories.