Think Twice Before Eating Fish in These Michigan Rivers and Lakes

After the recent warning from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) about toxic foam on our waterways, I can’t help but think about fishing safety, especially as Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial kickoff to summer begin.

Do Not Eat Fish from These 13 Michigan Lakes and Rivers:

Get our free mobile app

While environmental experts say these suds often collecting in streams or found on the lakeshore are typically a natural-occurring phenomenon caused by decaying plants and other organic materials, it could contain toxic PFAs and forever chemicals.

In a press release from the MDHHS Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive said,

The risk of PFAS exposure through your skin is low. However, you can accidentally swallow PFAS, as well as bacteria, algae, viruses and other chemicals...

Ok, but are the fish still safe to eat, at least?

Despite being the "Great Lakes State", not every Michigan fishing spot is safe to eat from. That's why the state has provided an Eat Safe Fish Guide which offers guidelines and test results so you can make safe choices for you and your family.

Some fish contain chemicals that can harm your health.  MDHHS tests filets of fish taken from Michigan’s lakes and rivers to learn which fish are safer to eat. The Eat Safe Fish Guide lists the fish that have been tested and how much is safe to eat. -- MDHHS

One thing is for certain: you will never catch me eating a fish caught from the Kalamazoo River!  Oh, how I wish I could splash around in Lake Allegan or kayak the Kalamazoo River without fear of falling into toxic waters. Honestly, it's depressing just how much irreparable damage has been done to Michigan's waterways by all the paper mills, railyards, and factories.

Have you heard of the Otsego Story Project and the group trying to connect the dots between the long-term, often fatal illnesses and environmental issues in Southwest Michigan?