NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) announced a precautionary fish consumption advisory for Center Hill Reservoir in DeKalb and Putnam counties Monday.

Walleye 19 inches and larger captured on Center Hill Lake should not consumed by pregnant women, nursing mothers and children. Others are asked to limit consumption to one meal per month.

Recreational activities such as boating, kayaking, swimming, wading, and catch-and-release fishing on Center Hill carry no risk.

According to a release, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) collected walleye for tissue analysis on Center Hill Reservoir in 2021 and 2023. The Fish were analyzed for mercury by the Tennessee Department of Health.

The advisory applies to walleye 19 inches and larger for the entirety of the reservoir based on data exceeding Tennessee’s trigger point for mercury, according to TDEC.

Mercury in walleye 19 inches and larger averaged 0.39 mg/kg, which is above the trigger point of 0.3 mg/kg.

“Unlike ‘Do Not Consume’ advisories that warn the general population to avoid eating fish from a particular body of water altogether, precautionary fish consumption advisories are specifically directed to sensitive populations. They include children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and those who may eat fish frequently from the same body of water,” said Ronné Adkins, deputy commissioner for Environment at TDEC, in a release. “These advisories help the community make informed decisions about whether or not to consume the fish.”

Click here for a complete list of current Tennessee fishing advisories.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/tdec-warns-to-not-eat-fish-from-center-hill-lake-see-why/