The subject of mercury in our seafood has surfaced again, this time, not from a NYT’s article up north, but rather, an official DHEC Fish Advisories website from our own state government.

Along with this map is a listing of all the rivers and lakes throughout South Carolina. I suppose with all the creeks we have around here, there’s no way they could cover all of them (yet), but maybe that will be included down the road (hint, hint). Still, the DHEC Fish Advisory website is a great resource for you to check out; another is the NOAA FishWatch site, which focuses on the sustainability of fisheries nationwide.

The Cooper River page is broken down into the following categories:

• Cooper River - East Fork Cooper River (Quinby Creek to the “T”)
• West Fork Cooper River (From Diversion Canal to the “T”)
• The “T” to Bushy Park, and
• Downstream of Bushy Park.

It gives suggested meal quantities and schedules per week & per month, and any restrictions that may currently be in place.

For further information, contact:

Bureau of Water: Phone: (803) 898-4300 - Fax: (803) 898-4215

NOAA’s FishWatch program lays out a solid mission for their new informational site, “FishWatch can help you make informed decisions about the seafood you eat by providing you with the most accurate and timely information available on the sustainability of U.S. seafood fisheries.”

We all benefit from FishWatch by having one site to go to for information on the state of the nation’s fisheries and seafood.

The connection between seafood and health is undeniable, yet information available to consumers can be confusing and is often conflicting. NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has an obligation to help make information about seafood products more accessible to the general public. Consumers want to know if fish and other seafood are healthy and safe to eat and feed to their families.

Thank you Uncle Sam.