Fish Advisories and Consumption Guidelines
Select a region on the map or check the table below for Oregon fish advisories and consumption guidelines. NOTE: There is a statewide advisory for bass.
*Vulnerable population includes children under age 6, women of childbearing age and people with thyroid or immune system problems. = Mercury = PCBs, dioxins and/or certain pesticides
“Resident” fish spend their entire lives within a certain territory, and do not migrate. “Migratory” fish such as salmon, steelhead, shad and lamprey, spend most of their lives at sea, and contain less localized contaminants. In general, smaller, younger fish have fewer contaminants. |
Fish cleaning guidelines
Follow these fish cleaning guidelines to reduce your exposure to PCBs and other fat-soluble contaminants.
What is a meal?
A meal is about the size and thickness of your hand, or 1 ounce of uncooked fish for every 20 pounds of body weight.
- 160 pound adult = 8 oz.
- 80 pound child = 4 oz.
Contaminants and their health effects
Mercury and PCBs accumulate in our bodies over time and are passed on to developing fetuses through the placenta. Children’s brains go through extraordinary development in the womb and during the first six years of life. Mercury and PCBs can interfere with normal brain development and cause lifelong learning disabilities. PCBs can also cause cancer in children and adults.
Recreational Shellfish Advisories and Consumption Guidelines
Advisory: Softshell and Gaper Clams on Oregon Coast
- OHA has issued an advisory for recreationally harvested softshell and gaper clams along the Oregon coast due to arsenic contamination. See the table below for details and resources.
|
MEALS PER MONTH |
|
Zone |
Affected species |
Contaminant |
Location |
|
Resources |
OREGON COAST |
Softshell clams (Mya arenaria)
Gaper clams
(Tresus capax) |
Inorganic Arsenic |
North Coast (Mouth of Columbia to Neskowin) |
Siphon skin intact: 1
Siphon skin removed: 11 |
|
Central Coast
(Cascade Head to mouth of Umpqua River) |
Siphon skin intact: 2
Siphon skin removed: 26 |
South Coast
(Mouth of Umpqua River to California Border) |
Siphon skin intact: 4
Siphon skin removed: 33 |
Softshell and Gaper clams Meal sizes for different age groups |
Age group |
Meal size by clam weight (excluding shells) |
Meal size by clam volume (excluding shells) |
Adult (17 years and older) |
8 ounces |
1 cup |
12-16 years old |
6 ounces |
3/4 cup |
7-11 years old |
4 ounces |
1/2 cup |
4-6 years old |
3 ounces |
1/3 cup |
2-3 years old |
2 ounces |
1/4 cup |