How much fish can one eat from the bay?

Some San Francisco Bay fish are better for you than others. Omega 3s promote brain development in infants and lower heart disease in adults. However, because SF Bay has been contaminated by mercury and PCBs, people need to choose carefully what types of fish they eat.

“Eating fish is an important part of a nutritious, balanced diet,” said Dr. Chapman, director of the California Department of Public Health and state health officer. “We want to remind people that all fish are not the same, and some fish contain chemicals and should not be eaten.”

The 2011 advisory states that women under 45 years of age and children may eat up to:

  • Two servings a week of Chinook (king) salmon, brown rockfish, jacksmelt, or red rock crab OR
  • One serving a week of halibut or white croaker (Kingfish)
  • They should not eat any shark, surfperch, striped bass, or white sturgeon

Adult males and women over 45 years may eat safely eat more fish, but should not eat any surfperch from the bay. The 2011 guidelines recommend:

  • 7 servings a week of Chinook (king)salmon, or
  • 5 servings a week of Brown rockfish, or
  • 2 servings a week of striped Bass, Jacksmelt, or California halibut, or
  • 1 serving a week of white croaker (Kingfish), shark, or white Sturgeon

“Mercury and PCB contamination in the San Francisco Bay is a long term concern,” says Dr. George Alexeeff, director of the OEHHA. “Contamination levels in the bay have not changed significantly over the past 20 years, however we’ve learned more about these levels in individual species of fish. As a result, consumers have more choices. ”