Sportfish consumption patterns of Lake Ontario anglers and the relationship to health advisories

Connelly, NA; Knuth, BA; Brown, TL

HERO ID

1060848

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

1996

Language

English

HERO ID 1060848
In Press No
Year 1996
Title Sportfish consumption patterns of Lake Ontario anglers and the relationship to health advisories
Authors Connelly, NA; Knuth, BA; Brown, TL
Journal North American Journal of Fisheries Management
Volume 16
Issue 1
Page Numbers 90-101
Abstract Accurate fish consumption estimates are necessary to determine the risks anglers face associated with consumption of contaminated fish and to assess compliance with fish consumption health advisories. Based on a 12-month diary methodology, anglers who fished Lake Ontario in 1992 consumed an average of 30.3 fish meals in 1992, of which 28% were sport-caught. When meal size was factored in, an estimated 17.9 g of fish per day from all sources were consumed by Lake Ontario anglers. Virtually all diary participants ( gt 95%) who fished Lake Ontario in 1992 said they were aware of the New York State health advisory. However, 36% of 1992 Lake Ontario anglers consumed fish in excess of the fish consumption limits recommended for Lake Ontario; 14% ate fish from Lake Ontario but did not exceed limits recommended in the advisory; the remainder (50%) did not consume any fish from Lake Ontario in 1992. Furthermore, 90% of those who actually consumed over the limit said they believed their consumption was within the recommended limits in 1992. These anglers may have believed that use of risk-reducing cleaning techniques decreased their risk sufficiently to allow increased consumption of listed species. Clarification of how risk is calculated and whether it assumes use of risk-reducing cleaning techniques should be included in the health advisory. Communication efforts should address this lack of consumers' "compliance." especially in light of our finding that most of these anglers believed that their consumption was within the limits recommended in the advisory.
Doi 10.1577/1548-8675(1996)016<0090:SCPOLO>2.3.CO;2
Wosid BCI:BCI199698725617
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English