Algonquin Adventures / Fishing Photos

**Posted by frozentripper** 1/24/2018 8:01 pm

Here's a recent report on rising mercury levels in three Ontario fish... walleye, northern pike and lake trout, for anybody interested.

https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/northern-ontario-fish-showing-increasing-mercury-levels-says-u-of-t-study-202148

**Posted by ATVenture** 1/24/2018 8:14 pm

frozentripper wrote:
Here's a recent report on rising mercury levels in three Ontario fish... walleye, northern pike and lake trout, for anybody interested.

https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/northern-ontario-fish-showing-increasing-mercury-levels-says-u-of-t-study-202148

Very interesting article. I'm surprised I haven't seen it because its a local news site (North Bay). I wonder if this also affects the perch i have been eating from Lake Nipissing, we've been eating them once a week all winter and plan to do so until the Spring (along with walleye and northern pike).

Last edited by ATVenture (1/24/2018 8:14 pm)

**Posted by frozentripper** 1/25/2018 9:23 am

Yellow perch mercury levels exceed contaminant guidelines in some lakes IIRC, I didn't spend any time checking the guideline booklet, but if there are other shield lakes in the area that do have YP with restrictions, Nipissing YP could be similarly affected if they weren't analyzed. My guess is that YP would be lower in toxins than the other three since they're smaller and younger than the large old individuals that have had more time to bioaccumulate mercury, but that's all it is, only a guess.

This is worth spending some time checking out... I've caught large lake trout and avoided eating them because they're likely to be old with a greater chance for bioaccumulation. YP OTOH, could be safer generally and worth knowing if they're lower risk.

**Posted by frozentripper** 1/26/2018 8:25 am

Well, I was wrong about YP being a less toxic fish to eat.... the advisory for Nipissing states that zero large perch should be eaten by sensitive individuals... children and women of child-bearing age. Large YP from Lake Erie and Lake Simcoe by contrast, can be eaten up to several times a month... possibly reflecting that these higher-pH lakes bioaccumulate less mercury.

https://www.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/sport-fish-consumption-advisory?id=46178000

Last edited by frozentripper (1/26/2018 8:26 am)