Consumption Advisory Issued For Lake Hartwell Spotted Bass

The state of South Carolina is advising people to limit how many spotted bass they eat from Lake Hartwell.

South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control this week released the annual state fish consumption advisory.

In it, South Carolina health officials said that the consumption recommendation for spotted bass from Lake Hartwell is no more than one meal per month.

Those officials cited mercury levels found in tissue samples of the spotted bass in Lake Hartwell as the reason.

As a reference point, the state of South Carolina considers one meal to be eight ounces of uncooked fish.

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Bureau of Water Chief David Blaze said that fish caught in the state’s waters are safe to eat if people follow the fish consumption advisory guidelines, adding that the advisory helps anglers know what amounts are healthy to eat based on the location and species they are catching.

The state of South Carolina did say that pregnant women, women who might become pregnant, infants, and children should not eat any fish with an advisory.

South Carolina health officials said that while fish is a healthy source of protein and nutrients, is low in saturated fat and contains heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, it sometimes accumulates minerals and contaminants in tissue and fish populations across the state are monitored to prevent unhealthy levels of mercury or other contaminants being passed on to humans who might eat the fish.

The state of South Carolina said a fish advisory does not mean the water is unsafe for recreational or drinking uses.

South Carolina’s 2016 Fish Consumption Advisory is now available online at www.scdhec.gov/fish.