From The Patriot-News:

Officials warn fishermen about harmful PCBs in trout
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Special to The Patriot-News

Most fish consumption advisories in the midstate will remain the same for 2006 under the updated list released last year by state officials responsible for monitoring Pennsylvania's waterways and protecting public health.

However, they did issue a do-not-eat advisory for brook trout and a six-meals-per-year advisory for rainbow and brown trout due to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination in the Schuylkill River from the confluence of Mill Creek at Port Carbon to Auburn Dam in Schuylkill County.

The advisories are developed through a partnership of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the departments of Environmental Protection, Agriculture and Health. "Consumption advisories are not intended to discourage anyone from fishing or eating fresh fish in moderation," DEP secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said. "Our goal is to make sure anglers have the best available information as they fish Pennsylvania's waterways."

The updated list also continued the one-meal-per-week advisory for all recreationally caught sport fish in the state. That policy was instituted in 2001 to avoid what was becoming an annual panic among anglers as similar advisories were issued for trout from individual hatcheries.

Only once since then has the commission needed to issue a special advisory for an individual hatchery. In spring 2002, a one-meal-per-month advisory was issued for trout from the commission's hatchery at Huntsdale.

One meal is considered to be one-half pound of fish for a 150-pound person.

The advisories do not apply to fish raised for commercial purposes or bought in stores or restaurants.

Proper preparation generally includes trimming fat and broiling or grilling the fish to allow remaining fat to drip away. Juices and fats that cook out of the fish should not be reused for cooking.

P.S. This has been an ongoing issue. Some PCB'S occur naturaly but have been found in hatchery raised trout.

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Eric "nighthawk"

American veteran and proud of it!

[This message has been edited by nighthawk (edited 05 December 2005).]

[This message has been edited by nighthawk (edited 05 December 2005).]