Fish are an important part of a healthy diet. However, some freshwater fish have PFAS, mercury, PCBs, and dioxins in them. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention is responsible for recommending safe eating guidelines for fish based on the presence of chemicals (MSRA 22 §1696 I). Follow the 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 Guidelines 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. The only exception to this ‘do not eat’ guideline is for brook trout and landlocked salmon, which should be limited to 1 meal per month. 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.
- 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
- increased risk of kidney cancer and possibly testicular cancer
Limit or eliminate consumption of all fish or certain fish species from the waterbodies in the table below.
Safe Eating Guidelines: PFAS Area Waterbody Guidelines 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. Albion All of Livejoy Pond No more than 6 meals per year of any fish species. Belgrade and Oakland All of McGrath Pond and Salmon Lake (Ellis Pond) No more than 1 meal per month of any fish species. Brunswick (Former Naval Air Station) Mere (Mare) Brook from Coffin Ice Pond to the Western edge of the runway. No more than 6 meals per year of any fish species. Mere (Mare) Brook from the Eastern side of the runway to the Liberty Crossing. Do not eat any species of fish. All of Merriconeag Stream Do not eat any species of fish. All of Picnic Pond Do not eat any species of fish. All of Site 8 Stream Do not eat any species of fish. Burnham to Benton Sebasticook River from the confluence with Twentyfive Mile Stream in Burnham to Benton Falls in Benton. No more than 5 meals per year 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 All of Police Athletic League (PAL) Ponds Do not eat any species of fish. 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. Gray All of Collyer Brook. No more than 1 meal per month of brook trout. Leeds and Wayne All of Androscoggin Lake No more than 10 meals per year of any fish species. Limestone to Fort Fairfield All of Durepo Pond and Limestone Stream No more than 4 meals per year of brook trout and do not eat smallmouth bass from these waters. Monmouth and Winthrop All of Annabessacook Lake No more than 10 meals per year of any fish species. 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: Fish in some Maine waters are have high levels of PCBs, Dioxins, or DDT which 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.
Cleaning Methods
If you plan on eating fish caught from waters known to have PCB, Dioxin, or DDT pollution problems, you can reduce the amount of these chemicals in the fish you eat. PCBs, Dioxins, and DDT are chemicals that build-up in fatty tissues. You can reduce the amount of these chemicals in fish by cutting away fatty tissues and by cooking in a way that melts the fat away from the fish. Most fish have fat deposits on the top of their back, belly, and sides. Download instructions to show where you can find fatty tissue to cut away (PDF).
Cooking Methods
Remove or puncture skin before cooking. This allows the fat to drain off and helps remove or reduce fat under the skin. Cook so fat drips away. Bake, broil, or grill on a rack, or poach and do not use the liquid. These methods will not reduce mercury in fish tissue. Mercury is in the fish muscle and cannot be removed by trimming or cooking.
Safe Eating Guidelines: PCBs, Dioxins, and DDT Area Guidelines 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 (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 (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. - Saltwater Fish & Lobster Tomalley Safe Eating Guidelines
Warning: Chemicals in some Maine saltwater fish and lobster tomalley may harm people who eat them. Women who are or may become pregnant and children should carefully follow the Safe Eating Guidelines.
Safe Eating Guidelines
Saltwater Fish & Lobster Tomalley Safe Eating Guidelines Species Who Guidelines Striped Bass and Bluefish Pregnant and nursing women, women who may get pregnant, nursing mothers and children under 8 years of age Do not eat any striped bass or bluefish. All other individuals No more than 4 meals per year. Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, and Tilefish Pregnant and nursing women, women who may get pregnant and children under 8 years of age Do not eat any swordfish or shark. All other individuals No more than 2 meals per month. Canned Tuna Pregnant and nursing women, women who may get pregnant and children under 8 years of age No more than 1 can of "white" tuna or 2 cans of "light" tuna per week. All other ocean fish and shellfish, including canned fish and shellfish Pregnant and nursing women, women who may get pregnant and children under 8 years of age No more than 2 meals per week. Lobster Tomalley Everybody No Consumption. While there is no known safety considerations when it comes to eating lobster meat, consumers are advised to refrain from eating the tomalley. The tomalley is the soft, green substance found in the body cavity of the lobster. It functions as the liver and pancreas, and test results have shown that the tomalley can accumulate contaminants found in the environment. - Common Seafood Illnesses
Shellfish Poisoning is caused by eating seafood contaminated with specific biotoxins (poison). This happens when certain algae grow out of control and produce high levels of biotoxins. This is sometimes called harmful algal blooms or red tide. This can include mussels, clams, cockles, oysters, sea snails, scallops, crabs, and lobsters. Symptoms include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, numbness and tingling in the face, mouth, and hands, and loss of muscle coordination.
Scombroid Poisoning is caused by eating certain types of fish that were not properly refrigerated. This causes bacteria to grow and produce scombroid toxin (poison). Symptoms usually begin quickly, about 30 minutes to 1 hour after ingesting the toxin. They include Diarrhea, Skin Rash, Nausea and Vomiting Headache.
Vibriosis is an infection caused by one of many types of Vibrio bacteria. These bacteria are often found in salty, coastal waters. Symptoms usually begin within 24 hours of eating. Illness usually goes away on its own after about three days. They include watery stool, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting fever, and chills.
Resources for the Public
Websites
- Choose Fish and Shellfish Wisely
- Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Recreational Fishing
- Maine Department of Marine Resources Recreational Fishing
- Mycobacteriosis in Striped Bass
Educational Materials
- 2024 FAQ: PFAS in Recreationally Caught Freshwater Fish (PDF)
- The Maine Family Fish Guide: Advice from the Maine CDC (PDF)
- Cleaning and Cooking Instructions (PDF)
- Striped Bass and Bluefish Advisory (PDF)
- Choose Fish Low in Mercury Poster (PDF)
Technical Reports
- PFOS Fish Consumption Advisory for the Former Naval Air Station in Brunswick (PDF)
- 2025 PFAS in Fish Scientific Brief (PDF)
- Derivation of Action Levels for Setting Fish Consumption Advisories (PDF)
- Evaluation of the Health Implications of Levels of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins (dioxins) & Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans (furans) in Fish from Maine Rivers (PDF)
- Final Report of the Interstate Workgroup on Evaluating Atlantic Coastal Advisories for Recreationally Caught Striped Bass and Bluefish based on PCBs 9/3/2008 (PDF)
Contact
Contact Erin Arneson to order bulk quantities of print materials or for previous scientific briefs at erin.arneson@maine.gov or 207-287-5307.