Freshwater Fish Safe Eating Guidelines

June 2024 -  The Maine CDC issued updated and additional freshwater fish consumption advisories, recommending limiting consumption of all fish or certain fish from seven waterbodies in Maine. Three of the advisories are expansions of those issued last year, while four bodies of water are new additions to the list that now totals 16. View the table of PFAS Guidelines.
Download a tipsheet (PDF) on frequently asked questions and answers about the new advisories. Read the Press Release.

Fish are an important part of a healthy diet. However, some freshwater fish have PFAS, mercury, PCBs, and Dioxins in them. The Maine CDC issues safe eating guidelines for fish based on the presence of each of these chemicals. Follow the Mercury Guidelines, PFAS Guidelines, and Additional Guidelines below.


Mercury in Fish Guidelines

Warning: Mercury in Maine freshwater fish may harm the babies of pregnant and nursing mothers, and young children.

It's hard to believe that fish that looks, smells, and tastes fine may not be safe to eat. But the truth is that fish in Maine lakes, ponds, and rivers have mercury in them. Other states have this problem too. Mercury in the air settles into the waters. It then builds up in fish. For this reason, older fish have higher levels of mercury than younger fish. Fish (like pickerel and bass) that eat other fish have the highest mercury levels.

Safe Eating Guidelines: Mercury

Who Guidleines
Pregnant and nursing women, women who may get pregnant, and children under age 8

DO NOT EAT any freshwater fish from Maine's inland waters.

Except, for brook trout and landlocked salmon, 1 meal per month is safe.

All other adults and children older than 8

CAN EAT 2 freshwater fish meals per month.

For brook trout and landlocked salmon, the limit is 1 meal per week.

Small amounts of mercury can harm a brain starting to form or grow. That is why unborn and nursing babies, and young children are most at risk. Too much mercury can affect behavior and learning. Mercury can harm older children and adults, but it takes larger amounts. It may cause numbness in hands and feet or changes in vision. The Safe Eating Guidelines identify limits to protect everyone. Download the Maine Family Fish Guide for tips on buying, cooking, and catching fish low in mercury.


PFAS in Fish Guidelines

Fish tested in several locations found levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) above Maine CDC's recommended levels for regular consumption. Exposure to certain PFAS chemicals has been associated with:

  • changes in liver and kidney function,
  • changes in cholesterol levels,
  • decreased immune response to vaccines in children,
  • complications during pregnancy, and
  • increased risk of kidney cancer and possibly testicular cancer.

Limit or eliminate consumption of all fish or certain fish species from these waterbodies.

Safe Eating Guidelines: PFAS

Area Waterbody Guidleines
Albion Fifteenmile Stream from the Yorktown Brook inlet at the Hussey Road to Route 137/202 in Albion No more than 2 meals per month of brook trout.
Belgrade and Oakland All of McGrath Pond and Salmon Lake (Ellis Pond) No more than 1 meal per month of any fish species.
Caribou Aroostook River from the Aroostook River Reservoir to Haley Island in Fort Fairfield No more than 2 meals per month of brook trout.
China All of China Lake No more than 1 meal per month of any fish species.
Corinth to Bangor Kenduskeag Stream from the Robyville covered bridge to the Penobscot River No more than 1 meal per month of smallmouth bass.
Fairfield Fish Brook, including any tributaries, from the headwaters to the confluence with Messalonskee Stream Do not eat any fish from these waters.
Fairfield Police Athletic League (PAL) Ponds Do not eat any fish from these waters.
Fairfield Kennebec River from the Carrabassett Stream inlet just north of Route 23 to the Lockwood Dam in Waterville No more than 9 meals per year of smallmouth bass.
Fairfield to Sidney Kennebec River from the Carrabassett Stream inlet just north of Route 23 to the Town Farm Brook inlet in Sidney No more than 9 meals per year of smallmouth bass and no more than 5 meals per year of black crappie.
Limestone to Fort Fairfield All of Durepo Pond and Limestone Stream from Durepo to the Canadian border No more than 4 meals per year of brook trout and do not eat smallmouth bass from these waters.
Sanford and Alfred The Mousam River from below the Number One Pond Dam to Outlet Dam on Estes Lake, including all of Estes Lake No more than 3 meals per year of any fish species.
Sanford All of Number One Pond No more than 1 meal per month of largemouth bass.
Thorndike and Unity Halfmoon Stream from the Shikles Road in Thorndike to Sandy Stream and Sandy Stream from the Sevens Road in Unity to Unity Pond No more than 5 meals per year of smallmouth bass. For Halfmoon Stream, consume no more than 2 meals per month of brook trout.
Unity All of Unity Pond No more than 6 meals per year of black crappie and no more than 12 meals per year for all other fish species.
Waterville and Oakland Messalonskee Stream from the Rice Rips Dam in Oakland to the Automatic Dam in Waterville No more than 3 fish meals per year of any fish species.
Westbrook and Falmouth The Presumpscot River from Saccarappa Falls in Westbrook to Presumpscot Falls in Falmouth No more than 4 fish meals per year of any fish species.

Additional Fish Guidelines: PCBs, Dioxins, and DDT

Warning: Some Maine waters are polluted, requiring additional limits to eating fish.

  • Fish caught in some Maine waters have high levels of PCBs, Dioxins or DDT in them.
  • These chemicals can cause cancer and other health effects.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends additional fish consumption limits on the waters listed below. Remember to check the mercury guidelines. If the water you are fishing is listed below, check the mercury guideline above and follow the most limiting guidelines.

Safe Eating Guidelines: PCBs, Dioxins, and DDT

Area Guidleines
Androscoggin River Gilead to Merrymeeting Bay: No more than 6-12 meals a year of any fish species.
Dennys River Meddybemps Lake to Dead Stream: No more than 1-2 meals per month of any fish species.
Green Pond, Chapman Pit, & Greenlaw Brook Do not eat any fish from these waters.
Little Madawaska River & tributaries(Madwaska Dam to Grimes Mill Road): Do not eat any fish from these waters.
Kennebec River Augusta to the Chops: Do not eat any fish from these waters.
Shawmut Dam in Fairfield to Augusta: No more than 5 meals per year of trout and no more than 1-2 bass meals per month.
Madison to Fairfield: No more than 1-2 meals a month of any fish species.
Meduxnekeag River: No more than 2 meals a month of any fish species.
North Branch Presque Isle River No more than 2 meals a month of any fish species.
Penobscot River below Lincoln: No more than 1-2 meals a month of any fish species.
Prestile Stream: No more than 1 meal a month of any fish species
Red Brook in Scarborough: No more than 6 meals a year of any fish species.
Salmon Falls River below Berwick: No more than 6-12 meals a year of any fish species.
Sebasticook River (East Branch, West Branch & Main Stem)(Corinna/Hartland to Winslow): No more than 2 meals a month of any fish species.

Read about other Fish & Game Guidelines.