Fish Consumption Regulations and Recommendations
Since 1979, Massachusetts regulations have prohibited eating fish and/or shellfish caught in certain areas of New Bedford Harbor. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection samples local fish and shellfish every year to determine whether PCB concentrations are declining as a result of cleanup activities around New Bedford Harbor.
U.S. EPA recommends that recreational fishermen, shell fishermen and everyone else follow the Massachusetts regulations. In addition, we recommend limited eating of certain species not covered by the 1979 state regulations.
*Please see below for information on species specific information and recommendations for sensitive groups -- pregnant women, nursing mothers, children under age 12 and women who may become pregnant.
- Partnering with Mass Dept. of Environmental Protection
- Assessment with Mass Dept. of Public Health
- Recommendations
- Inner Harbor - Closure Area 1
- Outer Harbor - Closure Area 2
- Buzzards Bay - Closure Area 3
- Fact Sheets and Public Documents
Partnering with Mass Dept. of Environmental Protection
As part of the NBH site monitoring, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has conducted annual fish and shellfish sampling to determine whether PCB concentrations in NBH fish and shellfish are declining as a result of cleanup activities. In general, PCB concentrations have indeed decreased from the 1980s to the present in most species, although concerns remain as discussed herein. Fish and shellfish sampling will continue throughout the cleanup efforts, and updates to this fact sheet will be issued as appropriate. Click here to view contaminant monitoring reports for seafood harvested in the New Bedford Harbor Area.
Assessment with Mass Dept. of Public Health
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) has also had extensive involvement with NBH in order to address a variety of health concerns. In 1979, MDPH promulgated state regulations prohibiting the consumption of any fish/shellfish in Area 1 of NBH; of bottom feeding fish (eel, scup, flounder, and tautog) or lobster in Area 2; and lobster in Area 3 (see attached map). These early efforts were followed by human epidemiological studies of PCB exposure via fish consumption by MDPH and others. *MDPH has additional advice for sensitive populations (pregnant women, nursing mothers, children under age 12, women who may become pregnant) that can be found at www.mass.gov/lists/fish-consumption-advisories. EPA supports this additional advice, and notes that its updated risk assessment (discussed below) recommends that sensitive populations avoid fish, shellfish and lobster from the three closure areas in NBH (see map on reverse) except that shellfish from Area 3 and Clark's cove may safely be consumed by these sensitive populations if limited to one meal per month.
Recommendations
As part of the Superfund process, EPA is required to conduct risk assessments that will result in cleanup levels that the selected remedy for a given site must meet. These risk assessments use conservative (health-protective) assumptions to ensure that even sensitive populations will not have health concerns following completion of remediation activities. In the case of NBH and the risk assessment conducted on fish/shellfish in the closed areas of the harbor, EPA's updated evaluation indicates that some species not currently covered by the 1979 state regulations may present health concerns for recreational fishermen and shell fishermen (and/or their families/friends who consume their take) if these species are consumed in larger quantities than current epidemiological data suggest. EPA believes it is important that recreational fishermen and shell-fishermen be aware that the risk assessment suggests that: consumption of black sea bass be limited to one meal per month if they are obtained in Areas 2 and 3; that scup not be consumed from Areas 2 or 3; and that general guidelines for shellfish include limiting consumption to one meal a month in Area 2 (one meal per week in Clark's Cove). Click here to view EPA’s New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site Fish Advisory Video.
It is important to recognize the substantial benefits of fish consumption for everyone. Fish is one of the best sources of fatty acids which are helpful in reducing the risk of heart disease. In order to avoid exposure to a harmful level of contaminants, people should choose a variety of fish and shellfish from a variety of sources.
The tables on this page show Massachusetts regulations and U.S. EPA recommendations for eating fish, shellfish and lobster caught in three fish closure areas around New Bedford Harbor. In two of the three closure areas, we have different advice for sensitive populations -- pregnant women, nursing mothers, children under age 12, and women who may become pregnant -- than for the general population. This special advice is noted at the bottom of the tables for Areas 2 and 3. Safe seafood is an important part of a healthy diet. People should choose a variety of fish and shellfish from a variety of sources.
Closure Area 1Inner Harbor: |
|
---|---|
If you catch… | then… |
Any shellfish, lobster, or fish, including bottom feeders | Do not eat it |
Closure Area 2Outer Harbor: |
|
---|---|
If you catch… | then… |
Fish: | |
Black sea bass | Eat no more than one meal per month |
All bottom-feeding fish including: | |
Eel | Do not eat it |
Flounder | Do not eat it |
Scup | Do not eat it |
Tautog | Do not eat it |
All other fish | U.S. EPA does not have adequate data so cannot make a recommendation |
Lobster | Do not eat it |
Shellfish (clams, quahogs, mussels etc.) | Eat no more than one meal per month. Exception -- Shellfish caught in Clarks Cove: eat no more than one meal per week |
NOTE: Pregnant women, nursing mothers, children under age 12, and women who may become pregnant should not eat fish, shellfish or lobster caught in Closure Area 2, except they can safely eat one, and only one, meal per month of shellfish caught in Clarks Cove. |
Closure Area 3Buzzards Bay: |
|
---|---|
If you catch… | then… |
Fish: | |
Black sea bass | Eat no more than one meal per month |
Bottom-feeding fish: | |
Eel | U.S. EPA does not have adequate data so cannot make a recommendation |
Flounder | U.S. EPA does not have adequate data so cannot make a recommendation |
Scup | Do not eat it |
Tautog | Eat no more than one meal per month |
All other fish, including all other bottom-feeders |
U.S. EPA has no data yet so cannot make a recommendation |
Lobster | Do not eat it |
Shellfish (clams, quahogs, mussels etc.) | There are no eating restrictions |
NOTE: Pregnant women, nursing mothers, children under age 12, and women who may become pregnant should not eat fish or lobster caught in Closure Area 3. They can safely eat one, and only one, meal per month of shellfish caught in Area 3. |
Fact Sheets and Public Documents
- New Bedford Harbor Community Involvement and Institutional Control Plan for Seafood Consumption (pdf)
EPA Community Involvement Plan and Institutional Control Plan for Seafood Consumption for the New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site (Site) in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and the surrounding communities of Fairhaven, Acushnet and Dartmouth. EPA prepared this community relations plan based on community interviews and other relevant information, and specified the community relations activities that EPA expects to undertake during the remedial response at the Site. - Memo Regarding 2015 Outreach Coordinator Data (pdf)
EPA memorandum on our outreach efforts following the 2015 Community Involvement Plan (CIP) and Seafood Consumption Institutional Control Plan (Seafood IC Plan), specifically regarding the operation of the Outreach Coordinator Program. - 2016 Community Involvement Action Plan Status (pdf)
EPA memorandum on our 2016 outreach efforts as outlined in the 2015 New Bedford Harbor Community Involvement Plan (CIP). - Fact Sheet - Update on Fish/Shellfish Testing, March 2023 (pdf)
EPA fact sheet providing an update on PCB contamination in local seafood from the New Bedford Harbor, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health 1979 state closure areas, and the 2010 U.S. EPA risk assessment. - Fact Sheet: 2024 Seafood Consumption Sign and Risk Information (pdf)
EPA 2024 seafood consumption signage and recommendations for sensitive populations, (young children, pregnant women, etc.) fish identification photos, and health information regarding PCBs. The signs are posted in popular fishing locations around New Bedford Harbor. - INFORMATIVO: SINALIZAÇÃO DE CONSUMO DE MARISCO EM 2024 E INFORMAÇÕES DE RISCO (pdf)
Sinalização de consumo de frutos do mar da EPA 2024 e recomendações para populações sensíveis (crianças pequenas, mulheres grávidas etc.), fotos de identificação de peixes e informações de saúde sobre PCBs. As sinalizações estão afixadas em locais de pesca populares ao redor do porto de New Bedford. - HOJA INFORMATIVA: CARTELES SOBRE EL CONSUMO DE MARISCOS E INFORMACIÓN DE RIESGO PARA 2024 (pdf)
Señalización del consumo de marisco y recomendaciones para poblaciones sensibles, (niños pequeños, embarazadas, etc.) fotos identificadoras de los pescados e información sanitaria sobre los PCB, EPA 2024. Los carteles están colocados en lugares de pesca populares del puerto de New Bedford. - FIXA INFORMATIVU: INFORMASON SOBRI SINALIZASON Y RISKUS DI KONSUMU DI MARISKU 2024 (pdf)
Sinalizason y rikumendason di EPA 2024 sobri konsumu di marisku pa pupulason sensível ((kriansa pikinoti, mudjer grávida, etc.), futugrafia di identifikason di pexi y informason di saúdi rilasionádu ku PCBs. Sinal sta fiksádu na lugaris di peska konxedu pertu di portu di New Bedford. - TỜ THÔNG TIN: THÔNG TIN RỦI RO VÀ DẤU HIỆU TIÊU THỤ HẢI SẢN NĂM 2024 (pdf)
Biển báo tiêu thụ hải sản EPA 2024 và khuyến nghị dành cho các nhóm dân cư nhạy cảm, (trẻ nhỏ, phụ nữ mang thai, v.v.), ảnh nhận dạng cá và thông tin sức khỏe liên quan đến PCB. Các biển báo được dán ở các địa điểm câu cá nổi tiếng xung quanh Cảng New Bedford.