Mercury in Catfish

[idahoron]

Did anyone here about the warning that came out this weekend I think. My cousin said that there was a new warning out. Ron
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[idahoron]

I found it. It is for the lower Boise River. 3 meals a month for nursing and pregnant women and children under the age of 15. Everyone else is 11 meals a month. Ron

http://www.ktvb.com/news/health/Fish-fea...html?can=n
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[AverysAdventure]

There's no CF there so not a problem []
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[windriver]

Do you eat eleven meals of catfish a month? That is what makes me laugh about all of the warnings.

Windriver
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[idahoron]

I catch a lot of cats but I don't think I eat way less than 11 meals a year. Ron
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[atstephens9]

I didn't even know there were catfish in the Boise River!
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[hooknhunter]

[quote windriver]Do you eat eleven meals of catfish a month? That is what makes me laugh about all of the warnings.

Windriver[/quote]

I worry sometimes. I don't eat much catfish, but other fish have limits too. See page 42 of the current fishing regulations. For perch it says 1 meal a week. When I break out a bag of perch from the freezer I'll have a least 2 meals and a snack during that week. If I do that 2 times a month, then I'm exceeding their recommendations. Also, what if I do that with perch, have a meal of trout, and a bass or a lake trout all in the same month. Now I've really exceeded their recommendations. Or do I not understand them correctly?
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[hooknhunter]

[quote idahoron]I found it. It is for the lower Boise River. 3 meals a month for nursing and pregnant women and children under the age of 15. Everyone else is 11 meals a month. Ron

[url "http://www.ktvb.com/....html?can=n[/quote]"]http://www.ktvb.com/....html?can=n[/quote][/url]

11 meals per month? Where does that come from? Fishing regulations recommend no more than 1 meal per week of channel cats (same as perch). That's less than 1/2 of what you are quoting. I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just curious where the numbers come from. Not everyone can be right.
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[idahoron]

This is what it said on the Channel 7 web site. Ron

"WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE FISHING IN THE LOWER BOISE RIVER

The high level of mercury in catfish was actually discovered when testing catfish caught by the US Geological Survey in June to determine water quality.

Based on their testing results, this is what the department of health is advising.
Expecting and nursing mothers should only eat three meals of locally caught catfish per month
Children 15-years-old and under should also only eat three meals of catfish per month
Everyone else not in these categories can eat up to 11 meals per month"
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[idahoron]

[quote atstephens9]I didn't even know there were catfish in the Boise River![/quote]

Why not? The Boise dumps into the Snake. I haven't fished the Boise but I am sure that all the tribs in that area have cats up them. Ron
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[atstephens9]

I know it dumps in the Snake in Caldwel. So you say I can fish for catfish in Veterans Park area for catfish? NOT clock tower pond.
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[hooknhunter]

[quote idahoron]This is what it said on the Channel 7 web site. Ron

"WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE FISHING IN THE LOWER BOISE RIVER

The high level of mercury in catfish was actually discovered when testing catfish caught by the US Geological Survey in June to determine water quality.

Based on their testing results, this is what the department of health is advising.
Expecting and nursing mothers should only eat three meals of locally caught catfish per month
Children 15-years-old and under should also only eat three meals of catfish per month
Everyone else not in these categories can eat up to 11 meals per month"[/quote]

Am I the only one who sees this? The new "advisory" isn't even as restrictive as the "general advisory" listed in the fishing regulations.

Fish and game general advisory = 1 meal per week

New advisory = 11 meals per month

I think they just needed something to fill time on the news..... and "advisory" gets head lines and turns your eye. It's all hype which is typical for any news media. They tend to blow things out of proportion.
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[Maxcat]

More reason to catch and release.
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[forrest2906]

I wonder what they are considering a "meal"? ....

I just looked at a pregnancy web site and it spoke about a meal as being a 6oz portion.

So my version of a meal is kind of like the regulated serving size on other products. just because it fits in 1 package does not mean it is considered 1 serving...

So under this guideline, some of us may be over the suggested meal sizes for the mercury guidelines.

From previously, the term "bag of perch" was used.....i know that if I had a bag of perch, it would be way over 6 ounces....
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[idahoron]

I get what you mean. I saw the same thing but here is the HW saying 11. But the news is making it out to be something it is not. Ron
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[idahoron]

[quote atstephens9]I know it dumps in the Snake in Caldwel. So you say I can fish for catfish in Veterans Park area for catfish? NOT clock tower pond.[/quote]

The snake is not anywhere close to Caldwell. The Boise river dumps in west of Parma. I am not sure if there are low head dams or other barriers in the river. Ron
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