Support for Fish and Shellfish Advisory Programs

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency develops guidance and reports to support programs that monitor fish and shellfish for contaminants, conduct fish consumption surveys and issue advisories.

On this page:

• EPA Guidance for Developing, Implementing and Improving Advisory Programs
• Fish Consumption Surveys and Rates
• Information on State Advisories and Toxics Assessments in Fish
• Trends in Fish Consumption and Contaminant Concentrations in U.S. Women

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EPA Guidance for Developing, Implementing and Improving Advisory Programs

The EPA developed the Guidance for Assessing Chemical Contaminant Data for Use in Fish Advisories to help state, local, regional and Tribal programs responsible for developing and managing fish consumption advisories. These resources are meant to provide guidance only, and do not constitute a regulatory requirement.

The four-volume set on fish advisories provides guidance for assessing health risks associated with the consumption of chemically contaminated non-commercial fish. It is essential that all four volumes be used together, since no single volume addresses all of the topics involved in the development of fish consumption advisories. The EPA is in the process of updating and converting the four volumes into web-based guidance.

Volume 1: Fish Sampling and Analysis

Volume 1 provides information on sampling strategies for a contaminant monitoring program. In addition, information is provided on selection of target species; selection of chemicals as target analytes; development of human health screening values; sample collection procedures including sample processing, sample preservation, and shipping; sample analysis; and data reporting and analysis.

• Access Volume 1: Building Fish and Shellfish Consumption Advisory Programs

Volume 2: Risk Assessment and Fish Consumption Limits

Volume 2: Risk Assessment and Fish Consumption Limits, Third Edition (pdf) (1.23 MB, November 2000, EPA 823-B-00-008) provides guidance on the development of appropriate meal sizes and frequency of meal consumption (e.g., one meal per week) for the target analytes that bioaccumulate in fish tissues. In addition to the presentation of consumption limits, Volume 2 contains a discussion of risk assessment methods used to derive the consumption limits as well as a discussion of methods to modify these limits to reflect local conditions. Volume 2 also contains toxicological profiles for each of 25 target analytes.

Volume 3: Risk Management

Volume 3: Risk Management (pdf) (6.2 MB, EPA 823-B-96-006) provides an overview of a risk management framework. This volume provides framework for selecting and implementing various options for reducing health risks associated with the consumption of chemically contaminated fish and shellfish. Using a human health risk-based approach, states can determine the level of the advisory and the most appropriate type of advisory to issue. Methods to evaluate population risks for specific groups, waterbodies, and geographic areas are also presented.

Volume 4: Risk Communication

Volume 4 provides states, territories, and Tribes information on how to develop, implement, and evaluate a risk communication program in order to have clear and effective risk communication methods for fish and shellfish advisories, especially for high-risk groups. It includes a nine-step risk communication cycle to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate fish consumption advisory programs.

• Access Volume 4: Develop Risk Communication Programs for Fish and Shellfish Consumption Advisories

Fish Images to Use with Fish Advisories

The EPA developed a set of images to convey fish parts that should not be eaten to reduce possible exposure to chemicals among target fish-eating populations. States, territories and Tribes can use these images in conjunction with written fish consumption advisories to communicate visually with target populations by showing different parts of the fish. These images are not meant to stand alone.

• Download the images and learn more: Fish Images to Use with Fish Advisories

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Fish Consumption Surveys and Rates

The EPA developed guidance for conducting fish consumption surveys and a related tool.

• Guidance for Conducting Fish Consumption Surveys (pdf) (3.9 MB) provides guidance on the design, conduct and analysis of surveys for estimating consumption rates of finfish and shellfish.
• Fish Consumption Survey Tool (FCST) (zip) (2.76 MB) is software for conducting computer-assisted personal interviews about eating fish. It is based on the paper version of a consumption survey developed by the Suquamish Nation and is described in detail in Appendix D of the guidance for conducting fish consumption surveys.

The following EPA report calculates estimated fish consumption rates for the U.S. population and selected subpopulations based on data from CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey using survey cycles from 2003 to 2010.

• Estimated Fish Consumption Rates for the U.S. Population and Selected Subpopulations (NHANES 2003-2010) (pdf) (1.95 MB)
  • Appendix A: Habitat Apportionment Documentation (pdf) (218.78 KB)
  • Appendix B: FNDDS Processing and Fish Containing Food Codes (pdf) (1.05 MB)
  • Appendix C: Supplemental Statistical Methodology (pdf) (438.9 KB)
  • Appendix D: EPA Method SAS Code (pdf) (214.61 KB)
  • Appendix E: Usual Fish Consumption Rate Estimates (Raw Weight) (pdf) (2.3 MB)
  • Appendix F: Usual Fish Consumption Rate Estimates (As Prepared Weight) (pdf) (2.32 MB)
  • Appendix G: Unweighted Sample Sizes (pdf) (262.26 KB)
  • Appendix H: EPA Response to External Peer Review of EPA's Draft Document (pdf) (368.01 KB)
• Analysis of U.S. Fish Consumption Rates Based on NHANES 2003-2010 Fact Sheet (pdf) (173 KB)
• Peer Review Report (pdf) (5.9 MB)

This Idaho Tribal Fish Consumption Survey (December 2016) documents current and heritage (i.e. historic) fish consumption rates for Tribes in Idaho. It includes current and heritage fish consumption rates and fishing-related activities of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and Nez Perce Tribe; and heritage rates for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho.

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Information on State Advisories and Toxics Assessments in Fish

The Great Lakes Consortium for Fish Consumption Advisories developed protocols for uniform fish advisories in order to provide Great Lakes states with consistent methods for determining fish consumption advice. Protocols are available for PCBs, chlordane and mercury, and a best practices guidelines for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS).

• Great Lakes Protocols for Uniform Fish Advisories

The EPA conducted a voluntary survey of fish advisory programs in 2010 to obtain information on advisories and advisory programs in states, U.S. territories and Tribes. The report summarizes the responses EPA received on assessment methodologies, risk management approaches and risk communication procedures. Appendix A includes the survey questionnaire. Appendix B provides the summary of each state's response.

• Report with Appendix A, Questionnaire for Fish Consumption Advisory Program (pdf) (1.35 MB)
• Appendix B, Questionnaire Response Database (pdf) (11.92 MB)

This set of documents focuses on fish advisories in the Mississippi Delta and their effectiveness.

• Survey on the Awareness and Effectiveness of the Mississippi Delta Fish Consumption Advisory (pdf) (1.6 MB) : Developed in cooperation with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
• Fact Sheet: Survey Evaluating Effectiveness of Mississippi Delta Fish Advisories (pdf)
• Recommended Study Design for a Survey to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Mississippi Delta Fish Advisories: Provides a survey instrument and recommended methodology for assessing the awareness and effectiveness of the Mississippi Delta Fish Consumption Advisory issued by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality in 2001.
• Upper Mississippi River Fish Consumption Advisories - State Approaches: This report describes states’ existing approaches to sampling fish tissue, developing and issuing fish consumption advisories, and using those advisories in assessing water quality and listing impaired waters. Options for enhancing the consistency of fish consumption advisories on the Upper Mississippi River were identified and discussed at a 2005 workshop. Those discussions formed the basis for subsequent discussions at a May 23-24, 2005 consultation meeting in St. Paul, Minnesota. At that meeting, representatives from state agencies and the EPA developed the conclusions and recommendations contained in this report.

Toxics Assessments

The Mid-Columbia River Fish Toxics Assessment (March 2017) provides a baseline understanding of toxic contamination in fish tissue in the Mid-Columbia River between the Bonneville Dam and Grand Coulee Dam. 

In the Assessment of Mercury in Fish Tissue from Pacific Northwest Lakes (February 2016), the EPA collected predator fish species from a subset of the lakes that were sampled for ecological condition as part of the 2012 National Lakes Assessment in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The fish tissue was analyzed for mercury to determine concentrations in recreational fish species. These data are used to address the following questions:

1. What are mercury concentrations in fillet tissue of common sportfish from lakes in the Pacific Northwest states (Idaho, Oregon, and Washington) that are used by the public for fishing?
2. What is the estimated percentage of Pacific Northwest lakes with mercury concentrations in sportfish tissue that are above levels of potential concern for humans?
3. What is the trend in fish mercury concentration in these lakes over time?

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Trends in Fish Consumption and Contaminant Concentrations in People

The following reports present the results of analyses on trends in mercury blood concentrations and fish consumption among U.S. women ages 16 to 49. 

1999-2020 Mercury Trends Report

Results of an analysis using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) survey releases from 1999 through March 2020 found a statistically decreasing trend in mean blood mercury concentrations over time in women ages 16 to 49 years. This change represents a 48 percent decrease in mean blood methylmercury concentration between NHANES 1999-2000 and 2017-March 2020. The estimated amount of fish reported eaten in 2013-2020 was higher than in 1999-2010, but mercury concentrations in blood and estimated mercury intake from fish consumption was lower in 2013-2020 when compared to 1999-2010. This finding suggests that women of childbearing age are choosing to eat fish with lower mercury concentrations leading to lower estimates of mercury intake per unit body weight in 2013-2020 when compared to NHANES 1999-2010. 

This study also found that the percentage of women of childbearing age with blood mercury levels above the 5.8 micrograms/liter level of concern decreased 71 percent from the 1999-2000 survey and the follow-up surveys from 2001-March 2020. 

• Blood Methylmercury and Fish Consumption Among Females of Childbearing Age in the General U.S. Population (pdf) (2.93 MB, January 2025, 820-R-25-003)

1999-2010 Mercury Trends Report

Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) survey releases from 1999 to 2010 showed that mercury levels in women of childbearing age dropped 34 percent from a survey conducted in 1999-2000 to follow-up surveys conducted from 2001 to 2010.

Additionally, the percentage of women of childbearing age with blood mercury levels above the level of concern decreased 65 percent from the 1999-2000 survey and the follow-up surveys from 2001-2010. During the survey period there was very little change in the amount of fish consumed.

• Trends in Blood Mercury Concentrations and Fish Consumption Among U.S. Women of Reproductive Age (pdf)
• Fact Sheet: Trends in Blood Mercury Concentrations among Women of Childbearing Age (pdf)