Anglers who fish Lake Bistineau should take note of an updated fish consumption advisory issued this week following recent testing for mercury in fish.

The Louisiana Departments of Health, Environmental Quality, and Wildlife and Fisheries announced Wednesday that Lake Bistineau is among seven waterways included in the state’s latest round of new or updated fish consumption advisories. Lake Bistineau’s advisory is an update to an existing advisory, not a newly issued warning.

The state uses fish tissue sampling to monitor mercury and other contaminants. The Louisiana Department of Health reviews those results with the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to determine whether consumption recommendations should be issued or changed. Advisories identify the affected waterway, fish species and recommended limits on how much should be eaten.

Mercury can enter the aquatic food chain and accumulate in fish over time. Larger predator fish generally build up more mercury than smaller fish. Long-term exposure to high levels can affect the brain and nervous system. Pregnant women, women who may become pregnant, breastfeeding women, children under age 7 and people who frequently eat locally caught fish are encouraged to pay particular attention to advisories.

The advisory does not mean that anglers should stop fishing Lake Bistineau or that all fish from the lake are unsafe to eat. Instead, those who eat their catch should follow the state’s recommendations for particular species and consumption amounts. Mercury cannot be removed from fish through cleaning or cooking.

Lake Bistineau is one of five waterways receiving updated advisories, while two other Louisiana waterways received new advisories. Louisiana now has 52 advisories for consuming freshwater fish due to mercury.

Specific consumption recommendations for Lake Bistineau and other waterways under advisory are available through the Louisiana Department of Health’s Eat Safe Fish program.

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