Fish Consumption Advisories

​The Kentucky Departments for Environmental Protection, Health Services and Fish and Wildlife Resources jointly issue a fish consumption advisory to the public when fish are found to be contaminated. Trace contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury and chlordane are found in some fish in Kentucky. An advisory cautions people about potential health problems that may result from eating fish caught from a particular area. An advisory does not ban eating fish; it is a guide to reduce your risk. This guide provides information on how often fish may be safely eaten. Most fish are healthy to eat and are an excellent source of low-fat protein. To answer basic questions about fish consumption advisories, Kentucky Division of Water has prepared an FAQ that can be found here: Frequently Asked Questions about Fish Consumption Advisories

Consumption rates for specific fish have been developed based on a meal of 1/2 pound of fish (before cooking) eaten by a 150-pound individual. Following these guidelines and spacing your meals of those fish species will limit your health risks by reducing your total exposure.

A sensitive population category exists for women of childbearing age, children 6 years of age or younger, pregnant and nursing women and women who plan to become pregnant. 

Risks from eating contaminated fish can be reduced by the following:

  • ...fillet the fish, remove the skin and trim all fat
  • ...do not eat fish eggs
  • ...broil, grill or bake the fillets instead of frying or microwaving
  • ...do not eat or reuse juices or fats that cook out of the fish.

Fish consumption advisories are in effect for the following:

  1. Statewide: All Kentucky waters are under an advisory for mercury. Women of childbearing age and children 6 years of age or younger should eat no more than six meals per year of predatory fish, no more than one meal per month of panfish and bottom feeding fish and no more than 1 meal per week of fish in the "other fish" category. The general population should eat no more than one meal per month of predatory fish and no more than one meal per week of panfish and bottom feeding fish.  There is no advisory for the general population for fish in the "other fish" category. However, brown trout over 17 inches are more predatory and have the potential to build up higher contaminant levels when compared to smaller brown trout.

    Predatory fish include black bass (smallmouth, largemouth and spotted), white bass, striped bass, hybrid striped bass, sauger, saugeye, walleye, muskellunge, flathead and blue catfish, yellow bass, bowfin, chain pickerel and all gars.

    Panfish include bluegill, crappie, rock bass as well as green, longear and redear sunfish.

    Bottom feeder fish include the bullheads, buffalo species, channel catfish, common carp, redhorse species, shovelnose sturgeon, drum, creek chub as well as the white suckers, spotted suckers, northern hogsuckers and carpsuckers.

    Other fish include invasive carp, trout species, minnows, etc. 

    This is not an emergency, as organic mercury can occur naturally in the environment and does not affect swimmers, skiers or boaters. Fish can accumulate these low levels of mercury by eating plankton and other small aquatic creatures.

    ​In 2021, state officials began testing fish from Kentucky waters to determine the prevalence of PFAS or polyfluoroalkyl substances. These substances are found in non-stick cookware, fire fighting foam, stain resistant carpets and some food packaging and break down slowly in the environment. Based on initial PFAS results, officials recommend following the same consumption guidelines for mercury while consuming fish from Kentucky waters.

  2. Drakes Creek: Fish should not be consumed from dam on W. Fork at Franklin, Ky. downstream to confluence with Barren River. This includes all species and sizes. (PCB)

  3. Fish Lake: Ballard Wildlife Management Area, Fish Lake, is an approximately 30-acre natural lake in Ballard County. This advisory is considered to be lake-wide from the headwaters of the lake to the outflow of Shawnee Creek.

    Advisory for Fish Lake:

    Fish Group General Population Sensitive Population Contaminant(s)
    Bottom Feeders1 meal/month6 meals/yearM​ercury
  4. Fishtrap Lake: Fishtrap Lake is approximately 1,100 acres and impounds the Levisa Fork River in Pike County, KY.

    Advisory boundaries:

    This advisory will include the Levisa Fork River from the KY/VA Stateline to the dam on Fishtrap Lake. A similar fish consumption advisory has been issued by VA for a portion of the Levisa fork river in their state.

    Advisory for Fishtrap Lake:

    Fish Group General Population Sensitive Population Contaminant(s)
    Bottom Feeders and Hybrid Striped Bass1 meal/month6 meals/yearPCB
  5. Green River Lake: Green River Lake is approximately 8,210 acres and impounds Robinson Creek and the Green River in Taylor and Adair counties.

    Fish Group General Population Sensitive Population Contaminant(s)
    Bottom Feeders1 meal/month6 meals/yearPCB, Mercury
  6. Knox Creek: There are approximately 7.8 miles of Knox Creek in Pike County, KY. The headwaters of Knox Creek are located predominantly in Buchanan Co, VA. A similar fish consumption advisory has been issued in VA for their section of this creek.

    Advisory boundaries:

    This fish consumption advisory will include all of Knox Creek from the VA/KY state line to the Tug Fork River.

    Advisory for Knox Creek:

    Fish Group General Population Sensitive Population Contaminant(s)
    Flathead CatfishNo ConsumptionNo ConsumptionPCB, mercury
    Bottom Feeders6 meals/yearNo ConsumptionPCB
    Predatory Fish1 meal/month6 meals/yearPCB
    Panfish1 meal/month6 meals/yearPCB, Mercury
  7. Little Bayou Creek:  Fish should not be consumed from the section of the creek located in McCracken County. This includes all species and sizes. (PCB)

  8. Metropolis Lake (McCracken County): Fish should not be consumed from Metropolis Lake. This includes all species and sizes. (PCB and Mercury)

  9. Mud River-From Hancock Lake Dam to Wolf Lick Creek: 

    Fish Group General Population Sensitive Population Contaminant(s)
    Bottom FeedersNo ConsumptionNo ConsumptionPCB
    Predatory Fish and Panfish1 meal/month6 meals/yearPCB

     

    Mud River-From Wolf Lick Creek to the Green River:

    Fish Group General Population Sensitive Population Contaminant(s)
    Bottom Feeders1 meal/month6 meals/yearPCB
    Panfish1 meal/week1 meal/monthPCB

     

  10. Town Branch (Logan County): Fish should not be consumed from any portion of Town Branch. This includes all species and sizes. (PCB)

  11. Ohio River, bordering Kentucky:

    Any fish species not listed in the table below falls under the one meal/week advisory for mercury.

    Upper and Middle Reach (Mouth of the Big Sandy River to J. T. Meyers L&D):

    Species General Population Sensitive Population Contaminant(s)
    Common Carp1 meal/month1 meal/monthPCB
    Channel Catfish under 18"1 meal/month1 meal/monthPCB
    Channel Catfish over 18"6 meals/year6 meals/yearPCB
    Flathead Catfish1 meal/month1 meal/monthPCB
    Striped Bass6 meals/year6 meals/yearPCB
    Hybrid Striped Bass6 meals/year6 meals/yearPCB
    White Bass1 meal/month1 meal/monthPCB
    All Suckers1 meal/month1 meal/monthPCB
    Freshwater Drum1 meal/month1 meal/monthPCB
    Black Bass (Largemouth, Smallmouth and Spotted)
    1 meal/month1 meal/monthMercury

    Lower Reach (J. T. Meyers L&D to Mouth of Ohio River):

    Species General Population Sensitive Population Contaminant(s)
    Common Carp over 22"​
    1 meal/month1 meal/monthPCB
    Blue Catfish over 20"1 meal/month1 meal/monthPCB
    Channel Catfish over 18"1 meal/month1 meal/monthPCB
    Flathead Catfish1 meal/month1 meal/monthPCB, Mercury
    Striped Bass1 meal/month1 meal/monthPCB, Mercury
    Hybrid Striped Bass​
    1 meal/month1 meal/monthPCB, Mercury
    White Bass1 meal/month1 meal/monthMercury
    Freshwater Drum over 14"1 meal/month1 meal/monthMercury
    Black Bass (Largemouth, Smallmouth and Spotted)1 meal/month1 meal/monthMercury
    ​Sauger1 meal/month​1 meal/month​Mercury