© Baltimore Sun/Elizabeth MalbyHaving already warned about eating rockfish caught in the Chesapeake Bay, the state now urges limited consumption of Atlantic rockfish, as they contain high levels of PCBs.
State officials warned Wednesday that people should restrict consumption of Atlantic striped bass - the state fish and one of the most popular with recreational anglers on Ocean City's beaches and charter boats, as well as with area restaurant diners.
The Maryland Department of the Environment issued the advisory for striped bass, also known as rockfish, and bluefish caught in coastal waters because they contain high levels of a banned toxic substance. People should not eat the fish more than once a month, the state said. Pregnant women, women of childbearing age, nursing mothers and children 6 and younger should avoid the fish altogether.
If consumers significantly cut back on the fish, the warning - a first for coastal waters - could have an economic impact on those who make a living taking weekend fishermen out on the ocean. It could also affect commercial fishermen, though the advisory does not officially extend to commercially caught fish; that is beyond the state's jurisdiction.
The news concerned Gary Beach, owner of the Marlin Moon Grille in West Ocean City, because all his striped bass comes from the Atlantic. His savvy customers won't order foods that have received negative publicity, but fish may be something of an exception because there are warnings for many kinds, including tuna for its high levels of mercury. In any case, striped bass wasn't on the menu Wednesday, so he couldn't gauge an immediate response from diners.
"Our guests' well-being is very important to us," he said. "We switch out ingredients all the time for safer ones. ... In this case, I'd say, I'd serve rockfish if they'd eat it. But everything in moderation."
That's also the message from state officials, who had previously advised consumers to eat striped bass caught in the Chesapeake Bay no more than about twice a month, and only the smaller fish that have absorbed fewer toxins.
The state acted in accord with other Eastern states in issuing the Atlantic advisory because the fish tested higher in polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, classified as a neurotoxin and a probable human carcinogen.
Department of the Environment Science Services Director Rich Eskin said the fish are safe for most people in moderation. "We encourage people to keep fishing. Fish to your heart's content. Eat only some of it. And eat the smaller fish."
Eskin said the state will continue monitoring the fish and update advisories as needed.
Previous advisories applied only to the Chesapeake Bay, lakes and rivers because there wasn't sufficient information about coastal areas, he said.
Data sharing with other states led to the Atlantic's inclusion.
He said officials have found less contamination in fish caught in the bay - spawning ground for at least three quarters of all East Coast striped bass - than fish caught near New York and New Jersey, for example.
Because striped bass are highly migratory, there are fish with higher and lower levels of PCBs in the bay, but the average is still lower than Atlantic fish. The average would be lower for fish served in restaurants, as well, because they come from farms, the bay and the ocean.
Upon learning of the new advisory for the Atlantic fish, one veteran Ocean City charter boat captain was dismissive.
"Commercial fisherman are scooping up bluefish and they're still being bought and sold in markets. So, what are you going to do?" said Steve Peterson, who fishes three miles off the coast."
"They can print all they want about it, and I'm still going to eat them. It's a media thing. One day it's swine flu and then the next day it's something else."
Contributors:
Staff writers Frederick N. Rasmussen and Candus Thomson contributed to this article.
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