Great Lakes Fish Advisories Show Pollution on the Rise

Toronto - Levels of toxic chemicals in Great Lakes fish are alarmingly high, and becoming more serious over time, a report released today by Environmental Defence shows. The report was released to kick off Ontario Family Fishing Weekend, which runs from July 6th to July 8th.

“While fish remains a healthy choice for consumers, toxic contamination levels suggest that we are still treating the Great Lakes as a toxic waste dump,” said Aaron Freeman, Policy Director of Environmental Defence. “We are clearly not doing enough to protect this vital ecosystem. We need stronger pollution regulations and a real plan from the federal and provincial governments to clean up the Lakes.”

The report, Up to the Gills: Pollution in Great Lakes Fish, analyzed the fish advisories published by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment for four species of fish in 13 locations across the Great Lakes. It found that many categories of fish are somewhat or completely unfit for human consumption, and that other categories of fish are becoming so.

The major chemical contaminants that cause consumption advisories include mercury, PCBs, pesticides, dioxins and furans. Health effects of these chemicals include damage to the nervous, respiratory and immune system, as well as cancer.

While a few regions, such as Lake Erie, have shown some reductions in toxic contamination levels over time, a greater number of areas are becoming more polluted. In Lake Ontario, for example, eight categories of fish became more contaminated between 2005 and 2007, while only one category improved. Typically, advisory levels are more severe for larger fish, which are generally older and have therefore accumulated more toxins in their tissue. But severe consumption advisories have been issued for even small sizes of fish in Lake Ontario.

More than five million anglers fish the Great Lakes every year in a commercial and sport fishing industry worth $3.5 billion a year. While the report highlights the benefits of fish in a healthy balanced diet, it does caution consumers to watch what kinds of fish they eat and from where.
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