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Bay Fish a Health Hazard?

Some folks fish in the Bay for fun; others for their daily food supply. No one, however, really knows what contaminants might be in the fish they pull out of the water. But a new $150,000 pilot study designed to test fish samples from locations around the Bay promises to provide this information.

State health and environmental specialists, along with members of region's fishing and environmental communities, are working together to design the study. Previous studies found high mercury levels in the Bay's striped bass, and led to public warnings not to eat the fish more than four times a month. But there has never been a comprehensive survey of contaminants in different species.

The study is badly needed, says Wendall Chin of Citizens for a Better Environment. Bay fish have become an increasingly important food source for many people, including those hit by hard economic times and immigrants from Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, where fish is a traditional dietary staple, says Chin. Even those who don't fish the Bay may be at risk, as reports show illegal catch are being sold to local restaurants and grocery stores. The S.F. Regional Board's Karen Taberski says researchers will gather fish from toxic "hot spots" in the Bay this winter, then analyze tissues for PCBs, PAHs, DDT and other contaminants. If the pilot program is successful, it could lead to a more extensive study on whether consuming Bay fish is a health risk, and to the posting of warning signs in popular fishing spots.

Contact: Christine Arneson (510)540-3273

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