Fish Advisories for PCBs

[Catawba]

"In late 2010 and early 2011, health officials in North Carolina and South Carolina announced sweeping new fish-consumption advisories for the Catawba River from Mountain Island Lake (near Charlotte) to Lake Wateree (near Columbia). Channel catfish and largemouth bass taken from the Catawba River were found to have high levels of polychlorinated biphyenyls (PCBs) and mercury. Health officials are recommending the people avoid eating channel catfish from certain areas and limit consumption of largemouth bass, blue catfish and striped bass from some areas. The fish advisories were issued after testing by North Carolina and South Carolina officials confirmed testing by Catawba Riverkeeper that was done in April 2010..."

To read the rest ... http://www.catawbariverkeeper.org/

[Double Haul]

It's a shame we have to worry about pollution contaminating the fish in our river. Thanks for the update.

[JustFishin]

Catawba, I think you've taken things to a new level on how to keep people off your favorite stream - I use to tell folks when they asked how the fishing was - "It was pretty good up until the recent fish kill". You've outdone yourself.
Seriously, I'm sorry to hear about that situation. We've had similar problems here in Virginia with PCB's. Our fisheries are being assaulted in so many ways. Thanks for posting.

[Catawba]

The greater shame is that there is no known process to clean up this mess. We are basically stuck with it for ours and our children's lifetime.

[Dennis1022]

Thanks for the posting of this river problem Mike! This why I like to promote the America's Most Endangered Rivers, I do this because one I care about the environment and most of all my Native Heritage, having my grandfather telling me about the stories of the past but our future. You see the those commercials don't mess with Mother Nature, it really should be don't mess with Mother Earth. You would not believe of so many rivers that is endanger due to mining and chemicals dumping and companies running pipes under water that no one see's unless we have real bad drought. But those ( PCB's ) in the fish will also die and then our wildlife will eat them and then it's a constant circle.