New fish consumption advisories issued today by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Department of Health and Social Services’ Division of Public Health show that the concentration of chemical contaminants in fish caught from Delaware waterways continues to decline – a sign that water quality is improving throughout the state.
The advisories also mean that fish caught in many Delaware areas can be eaten with lowered concerns about risks to public health.
The latest advisories convey that anglers and the public can eat more fish caught locally.
This continues the trend continues from 2016 fish consumption advisories that showed some of the largest declines in fish tissue contaminant concentrations since the state began assessing contaminants in fish in 1986.
“Seeing the positive results of regional efforts to restore water quality and the health of Delaware’s aquatic resources is very exciting and encouraging,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “I anticipate that, with continued cleanup efforts and cooperation between DNREC, DHSS, and our regional partners who include New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Delaware River Basin Commission, that we will continue to see a trend of improvement into the future.”
“The improved water quality allowing people to eat more fish caught in local waterways is good news across the board,” said DHSS Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker, a family physician. “Consuming fish is an essential part of a healthy diet because fish contain so many key nutrients, are low in saturated fat and contain omega-3 fatty acids. The updated advisories will help Delawareans make good decisions for themselves and their families about the right kinds of fish to eat from our state’s waterways, as well as the right amount.”
Many of the contaminants that prompt fish consumption advisories in Delaware are “legacy pollutants” – chemicals, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), the banned insecticide DDT, and dioxins and furans that were released into waterways in the past.
The advisories are largely the result of declining PCB concentrations in fish, as much as 50 to 60 percent less in some state waters. The reduction in PCB levels is attributable to several efforts, including state-of-the-science testing to identify, prioritize, and control remaining sources of contaminants and to clean-up strategies, including adding activated carbon and quicklime to sediments that bind contaminants and limit their transfer to the water and fish.
The latest updates to Delaware’s fish consumption advisories include the tidal Delaware River, the lower Delaware River and Delaware Bay, Atlantic Coastal waters, Waples Pond, Prime Hook Creek and Slaughter Creek.
Also, a special study conducted in 2016 and 2017 indicates that the Red Clay Creek in New Castle County can be reinstated this year as a stream suitable for trout stocking by DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife, more than 30 years after being taken off the state’s trout-fishing list due to contaminant issues.
Legislation has been introduced that calls for a dedicated source of funding for water clean-up efforts in a state that is known to have one of the nation’s highest level of contaminants.
A related issue of contaminants in drinking water has surfaced in various Sussex County locations. The western Sussex community of Blades was receiving drinking water from National Guard tankers after elevated levels of contaminants were found. A charcoal filtering system is being installed.
Fish consumption advisory data can be found on the DNREC website.
