Eating Fish Safely

What you should do

Eat fish as part of a balanced diet

Fish, shellfish, and seaweed contain omega-3 fatty acids that aren’t found in other foods and that can improve heart and brain health for people of all ages. Pregnant and breastfeeding women who eat fish pass these nutrients to their baby, supporting healthy brain and eye development. Seafood also contains high levels of protein and other nutrients.

How much seafood should I eat?

Women of childbearing age should eat two to three servings each week and children older than age two should try to eat about two servings of seafood from the "best choices" list each week. Other adults should eat at least two servings of seafood.

What if I can’t eat fish?

Seaweed and algae are another good option because they have many of the same nutrients as fish, including the same omega-3 fatty acids, and are less likely to have pollutants.

Supplements, such as cod liver oil, prenatal vitamins, and those added to baby formula, are also a good alternative. These supplements provide the long chain omega-3 fatty acids the body needs, but do not provide the other benefits of dietary fish consumption.

Health Risks

What about pollutants in fish?

Fish are good to eat, but some have higher levels of toxins than others. Mercury and other pollutants can build up in the bodies of living things, especially larger fish people often eat.

Mercury can harm brain development at relatively low levels and can be toxic to adults at high levels. Mercury is found in nearly all fish and is the biggest concern for eating fish. Other pollutants that are sometimes found in fish can cause cancer or other health problems. The levels of these pollutants are low enough that the health benefits of fish consumption outweigh the risk of health effects, except in extreme cases. Different types of fish have different levels of pollutants. You can further limit the risk by considering the types of fish you eat.

What about fish I catch myself?

Saltwater fish from Rhode Island waters has the same benefits and similar levels of pollutants as fish you buy. The list of best choices, good alternatives, and seafood to avoid also applies to saltwater fish you catch yourself.

Freshwater fish caught in rural areas of Rhode Island can have mercury levels that are a concern. Fish from urban areas of Rhode Island sometimes have other contaminants. The type of fish you catch and where you catch it is important. Avoid fish from the Woonasquatucket River south of Smithfield and limit consumption of top predators like Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, or Pickerel. Trout and Sunfish (e.g., Pumpkinseed, Blue Gill) you catch from Rhode Island lakes and streams are generally safe to eat.

Avoid eating fish caught from Grills Preserve Ponds. Eat only one native fish meal per month from the Pawcatuck River. These fish have high levels of PFAS. Learn more about PFAS in fish in the Pawcatuck River. RIDOH will host community meetings in June 2025 to discuss the findings, answer questions from the community, and provide guidance on reducing exposure risks. 

Meeting #1 (in Person)

June 12, 2025 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

At Bradford Citizens Club, 124 Woody Hill Rd, Bradford, RI 02808 

This meeting is in partnership with the Greater Bradford Community Development Association.

Meeting #2 (Virtual on Zoom) 

June 17, 2025 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Use this link to join the meeting: http://bit.ly/4d2qAmi 

If you prefer to join by phone, contact Melissa Orpen-Tuz (Melissa.OrpenTuz@health.ri.gov) for the call-in number.

No pre-registration required.

What about shellfish?

Shellfish you buy are nutritious and low in chemical pollutants. They should be properly cooked or they can make you sick (bacterial infection). Only gather shellfish from areas that are approved by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM)for shellfishing. Visit RIDEM website for more details on safe shellfish consumption.