Family guide to eating locally-caught fish in the Triangle now available

Eat Fish, Choose Wisely: A Family Guide to Eating Locally Caught Fish in the Triangle is now available to help inform fishermen at Triangle-area waters about local fish consumption advisories.  Creation of the guide began in 2014 in response to concerns from community partners, Lake Crabtree County Park and environmental non-profit Sound Rivers, about people eating fish from local waters with fish consumption advisories related to PCB contamination from a nearby Superfund NPL site. RTC staff conducted an angler survey around Lake Crabtree and held focus groups with target audiences to determine what messages about fish consumption advisories were both accurate and easily understandable.  Information gathered through these efforts guided development of the new publication. RTC staff hope to help vulnerable populations recognize that while fish are an important part of a healthy diet, it is essential to make informed decisions about which fish to eat.

Printed guides in English and Spanish highlight a map of Triangle-area lakes and rivers with related advisories. These guides are available at Lake Crabtree County Park and from our community partners. Local non-profit River Guardian Foundation is also aiding in disseminating the guide through their Stow It, Don’t Throw It campaign.

For more information, fishermen and families can also access a mobile-friendly website developed by RTC–www.EatFishWisely.org–to find information on local fish consumption advisories, learn about harmful chemicals that may be in their catch, find out how to reduce their risk of exposure, and access information about community partners.