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Mercury

Health Canada has set fish consumption guidelines based on the concentration of mercury in fish tissue, and the human body’s ability to eliminate mercury at a slow rate (see table). Most mercury accumulation in Alberta fish comes from natural sources.

Dioxin and Furan

Toxic airborne substances from burning organics and waste-water discharges from industrial sites. Alberta Health has compiled fish advisories for the waterbodies exposed to unsafe levels of contaminants. Recommended limits for:

• Brook Trout: 2 serving/week for waters within 20 kms of Swan Hills
• Burbot: Avoid eating the liver, only fillet portions can be eaten without limits, from
  • Athabasca River downstream of Iron Point
  • Cutbank River and tributaries
  • Kakwa River and tributaries
  • Little Smoky River and tributaries
  • Smoky River and tributaries
  • Wapiti River and tributaries
• Mountain whitefish: pregnant women and young children should avoid, others should limit consumption to no more than 1.5 servings/week from
  • Cutbank River and tributaries
  • Kakwa River and tributaries
  • Little Smoky River and tributaries
  • Simonette River and tributaries
  • Smoky River and tributaries
  • Wapiti River and tributaries

Note: 1 serving = 75 grams, ½ cup, or 2.5 oz

For detailed information about fish consumption advisories, please contact Alberta Health at (780) 427-4518.

Recommended Fish Consumption Limits for Fish Species in Alberta Water Bodies
Water Body	Species	Fish Size (lbs)	Consumption Limit (servings per week)**
			Women	Child 1-4	Child 5-11	Adult
Athabasca River (downstream Fort McMurray)	WALL	2	2	0.5	1	8
Amisk Lake (65-18-W4)	WALL	1	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	4
	NRPK	2	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	6
Bow River (below Bassano Dam)	WALL	-	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	1
	NRPK	-	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	1
Chinchaga River	WALL	2	3	1	0.5	No Limit
Christina Lake (76-6-W4)	WALL	4	2	0.5	1	8
	NRPK	8	2	0.5	1	8
Chrystina (Windy) Lake (67-8-W5)	EBTR	-	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	1
Clearwater River (Northeast Alberta)	WALL	2	2	0.5	1	8
	NRPK	2	8	2	4	No Limit
Cowoki Reservoir (19-13-W4)	NRPK	8	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	5
Crawling Valley Reservoir (22-18-W4)	NRPK	3	3	1.5	0.5	No Limit
	WALL	2	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	6
Edwards Lake (75-9-W4)	NRPK	-	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	1
Gregoire Lake (86-8-W4)	WALL	2	8	2	4	No Limit
	NRPK	2	8	2	4	No Limit
Helena Lake (66-11-W4)	WALL	-	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	1
	NRPK	-	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	1
Hilda Lake (64-3-W4)	WALL	-	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	1
	NRPK	-	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	1
Ironwood Lake (65-10-W4)	WALL	-	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	1
	NRPK	-	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	1
Isle Lake (54-5-W5)	WALL	3	6	2.5	1.5	No Limit
	NRPK	7	3	1	0.5	No Limit
Kehiwin Lake (58-7-W4)	WALL	2	4	2	1	No Limit
	NRPK	4	3	1.5	0.5	No Limit
Keho Lake (11-22-W4)	WALL	3	2	0.5	1	8
	NRPK	3	4	1	2	No Limit
Kinnaird Lake (67-10-W4)	WALL	2	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	5
	NRPK	3	3	1	0.5	No Limit
Lac Bellevue (56-9-W4)	WALL	2	3	1	0.5	6
Lac La Nonne (57-3-W5)	WALL	2	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	5
	NRPK	2	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	5
Lac Ste. Anne (54-3-W5)	WALL	2	4	1	2	No Limit
	NRPK	2	4	1	2	No Limit
Lake Newell (17-15-W4)	WALL	3	2	0.5	1	8
	NRPK	3	4	1	2	No Limit
	LKWH	2	8	2	4	No Limit
Little Bow Reservoir (14-20-W4)	NRPK	3	2	1	0.5	6
Little Bow River (upstream of Twin Valley Res.)	NRPK	2	4	1	2	No Limit
Little Bow River (downstream of Twin Valley Res.)	NRPK	2	2	0.5	1	8
Long Lake (63-19-W4)	NRPK	2	4	2	1	No Limit
McGregor Lake (17-21-W4)	WALL	4	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	5
Milk River Ridge Reservoir (5-20-W4)	WALL	3	2	0.5	1	8
	NRPK	3	4	1	2	No Limit
	LKWH	2	8	2	4	No Limit
Moose Lake (61-7-W4)	WALL	-	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	1
	NRPK	-	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	1
Muskwa River (83-26-W4)	NPRK	2	8	2	4	No Limit
Muskwa Lake (82-5-W5)	WALL	-	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	1
	NRPK	-	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	1
Namur Lake (97-17-W4)	LKTR	4	2	0.5	1	8
North Saskatchewan River	WALL	-	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	1
	NRPK	-	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	1
	GOLD	-	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	1
	SAUG	-	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	1
Oldman River (Downstream Lethbridge)	NRPK	3	4	1	2	No Limit
Pine Coulee Reservoir (14-28-W4)	WALL	1	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	5
	NRPK	1	8	2	4	No Limit
Pine Lake (36-25-W4)	WALL	3	2	0.5	1	8
	NRPK	3	4	1	2	No Limit
Pinehurst Lake (65-10-W4)	WALL	4	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	5
	NRPK	3	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	4
Pitchimi Lake (115-5-W5)	LKTR	10	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	4
Red Deer River (Downstream of Blindman R.)	WALL	3	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	5
	NRPK	3	4	1	2	No Limit
	MTWH	2	8	2	4	No Limit
Rolling Hills Reservoir (16-14-W4)	WALL	6	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	3
	NRPK	8	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	3
South Saskatchewan River (Bindloss Ferry and Medicine Hat)	WALL	2	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	5
	SAUG	1	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	8
	NPRK	3	4	1	2	No Limit
	LKWH	2	8	2	4	No Limit
	GOLD	1	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	5
Touchwood Lake (67-10-W4)	WALL	5	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	3
	NRPK	10	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	4
Twin Valley Reservoir (15-26-W4)	NPRK	2	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	5
Wabamun Lake (53-4_W5)	NPRK	7	3	1	0.5	No Limit
Wabasca Lakes (81-25-W4)	WALL	4	4	3	1	No Limit
	NRPK	9	4	2	1	No Limit
Whitefish Lake (62-13-W4)	LKWH	8	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	5
	WALL	4	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	4
	NRPK	9	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	5
Willow Creek (9-25-W4)	NRPK	2	4	1	2	No Limit
	BURB	1	4	1	2	No Limit
Winefred Lake (75-4-W4)	WALL	3	8	2	4	No Limit
WALL – Walleye NRPK – Northern Pike GOLD – Goldeye EBTR – Eastern Brook Trout MTWH – Mountain Whitefish LKWH – Lake Whitefish LKTR – Lake Trout SAUG – Sauger BURB - Burbot	1 lb = 454 grams** 1 serving = 75 grams/ 1/2 cup / 2.5 oz, or a piece of cooked fish that fits into the palm of your hand			Women refers to women of child-bearing age (15-49 years) and pregnant women. Adult refers to adults and children over 12 years.

Updated: Apr 05, 2012