The Washington State Department of Health has issued a health advisory for consumption of sturgeon from the lower Columbia River.

The advisory extends from the mouth of Columbia (see A on map below) upriver to the Bonneville Dam (see B on map). The advisory, in accordance with findings from the Oregon Health Authority, recommends limiting consumption of sturgeon based on contaminant levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the fish tissue. Advisories and consumption limits are recommended when contaminants are above Washington state’s health-based screening values.

A meal of sturgeon is proportionate to the size of the palm of the hand. Meal limit recommendations for sturgeon from the lower Columbia River are:

• No more than seven meals per month for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children
• No more than eight meals per month for all other adults

PCBs can exist in sediment where sturgeon feed. Sturgeon can live long lives and their meat is high in fat in regions where PCBs accumulate over time. Consuming large amounts of fish contaminated with PCBs can cause negative health effects over time and can lead to potential learning and behavioral problems. Mothers can pass PCBs to children during pregnancy and when nursing. Babies and young children are the most vulnerable to negative health effects from these contaminants.

While it is important to know the risks of consuming fish with high levels of contaminants, discontinuation of consumption of all fish is not recommended, the health department said, noting that a diet with a variety of fish sources has health benefits.

The Department of Health will continue to evaluate and update the sturgeon advisory as future data becomes available. Fishers can visit the WA DOH fish advisories webpage for information on the Columbia and other Washington state rivers.