Mercury Warnings Should Not Keep Anglers From Fishing, Conservation
Groups Advise
by
Gordon Robertson
September 2, 2004—As the Labor Day holiday approaches,
sport anglers need not put away their fishing gear because of the recent
flurry of fish consumption advisories and discussion about mercury in
fish tissue according to a joint statement issued by three prominent
conservation organizations. The American Sportfishing Association, BASS
and the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies want
to assure anglers that it is still safe and fun to fish and to eat their
catch.
“We are concerned that recent announcements concerning mercury
in fish will cause anglers to believe fishing is no longer
one of America’s
great past times,” said Gordon Robertson, Vice President
of the American Sportfishing Association. “While mercury,
if consumed in high quantities, can have a health impact,
the likelihood of a typical sport angler consuming enough fish to have
a health impact is minimal.” No scientific evidence
links eating recreationally-caught fish with mercury poisoning.
State fish and
wildlife agencies concur that recreational angling should
remain a healthy and popular activity. “We want anglers to
continue to enjoy fishing and wisely eating fish,” said Eric Schwaab,
Resource Director for the International Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies. “Many
of our member agencies, in conjunction with state health departments have posted
health advisories about fish consumption. While the states participate
in efforts to fully inform anglers about potential consumption risks, such advisories
are intended to provide a basis for informed risk analysis, not frighten people
away from a healthy recreational pursuit.
It is important to note that the number
and type of new advisories do not indicate the situation is worsening. In
most cases, new advisories result from additional sampling, stricter risk standards
or changes in behavioral assumptions. State
agencies regularly expand the range of environmental sampling efforts over
time, leading to consistently increasing number of advisories.
In addition,
one challenge in understanding the current approach is that assumptions are
made in the Human Health Risk assessment about the frequency and duration
of consumption patterns. These assessments are based on much
more regular consumption of fish than that exhibited by most recreational
fishermen. Schwaab also
explained that current EnvironmentalProtection Agency standards, on which
most state advisories are based, set a stricter standard that, in the
case of mercury, is four times higher than the threshold used by the
Food and Drug Administration, which governs the fish Americans purchase
off their grocery store shelves. At
a minimum this discrepancy presents a confusing basis for risk based decisions
by the American public.
“The topic of mercury in the environment and
in fish is very complex”,
said Noreen Clough, Conservation Director for BASS, the Nation’s
largest individual angler membership organization. “Certainly, there
can be situations where anglers should heed consumption advisories, but
we know of no studies of mercury induced health problems from eating sport-caught
fish in the U.S. Much
of fishing is about catching the fish, sharing the experience with family
and friends and building on our outdoor skills. Many anglers practice
catch and release and the current discussion surrounding mercury should
not deter anyone from enjoying the great sport of fishing and the great
out-of-doors.”
All three organizations stressed that scientific work
directed at health risks associated with mercury and fish consumption
has focused on subsistence cultures with high lifelong rates
of consumption of fatty fish or marine mammals. The
highest mercury concentrations are known to exist in fatty tissue of
older, top level predatory fish, which subsist on diets of other fish. Eating
younger, lower level predator fish, avoiding fatty tissue and using proper
cooking procedures all reduce health risks from fish.
Sportfishing generates
approximately $116 billion each year for the Nation’s
economy and is responsible for slightly over one million jobs. Most importantly,
the tradition of sportfishing brings enjoyment, a learning experience
and strong social bonds to over 44 million Americans each year.
The American Sportfishing Association is the sportfishing industry’s
trade association, uniting more than 600 members of the sportfishing
and boating industries with state fish and wildlife agencies, federal
land and water management agencies, conservation organizations, angler
advocacy groups, and outdoor journalists. The American Sportfishing
Association safeguards and promotes the enduring social, economic,
and conservation values of sportfishing.
