Alabama has released its list of fish consumption advisories for 2025 to warn the public not to eat fish from some waterways due to the presence of harmful substances like mercury or other chemicals.

The Alabama Department of Public Health issues the guidelines each spring based on fish samples caught the previous fall. Last year, the agency collected nearly 500 samples to look for harmful substances, such as PCBs and PFOS, man-made chemicals that do not easily break down.

“Unfortunately, certain toxic chemicals have been found in some lakes and rivers in Alabama,” the advisory said. “Some of these chemicals can accumulate in fish.”

“The recommendation of a fish consumption advisory does not necessarily mean that the waters under advisory are unsafe for recreation… Activities such as swimming, boating, or catch-and-release fishing in waters that have fish consumption advisories are considered to be safe.”

This year’s advisories include 22 locations where the state recommends not eating any species of fish caught there, compared to 19 last year. The advisory locations for 2025 are:

• Baker’s Creek embayment at Wheeler Reservoir. (Morgan County) All species — Do not eat (PFOS)
• Bear Creek Reservoir, dam forebay area. Bear Creek mile 75. (Franklin County) All species — Do not eat (Mercury)
• Chickasaw Creek, entire creek. (Mobile County) All species — Do not eat (Mercury)
• Cold Creek Swamp, from the confluence of Cold Creek with the Mobile River west through the swamp. (Mobile County) All species — Do not eat (Mercury)
• Cowpen Creek, upstream of confluence with Fish River. (Baldwin County) All species — Do not eat (Mercury)
• Mobile River at Cold Creek, at river mile 27. (Mobile County) All species —Do not eat (Mercury)
• Polecat Creek, upstream of confluence with Fish River. (Baldwin County) All species — Do not eat (Mercury)
• Binion Creek, immediately upstream of U.S. 43. (Tuscaloosa County) All species — Do not eat (Mercury)
• Lewis Smith Reservoir, mouth of Clear Creek, Sipsey Fork in the vicinity of Clear Creek and Butler Creeks. Approximately 2.3 miles upstream of Alabama 257 bridge. (Winston County) All species — Do not eat (Mercury)
• Choccolocco Creek, entire length of creek from south of Oxford to Logan Martin Reservoir. (Calhoun, Talladega Counties) All species — Do not eat (PCBs)
• Choccolocco Creek, in the vicinity of County Road 399 bridge. (Talladega County) All species — Do not eat (PCBs, Mercury)
• Choccolocco Creek embayment, approximately 1 mile upstream of lake confluence. (Talladega County) All species — Do not eat (PCBs)
• Big Escambia Creek at Louisville and Nashville Railroad bridge crossing, Approximately 0.5 miles upstream of the Alabama /Florida state line. (Escambia County) All species — Do not eat (Mercury)
• Blackwater River In the area between the mouth of the river and the pipeline crossing southeast of Robertsdale. (Baldwin County) All species — Do not eat (Mercury)
• Blackwater River Between the County Road 4 bridge and the Alabama/ Florida state line. (Escambia county) All species — Do not eat (Mercury)
• Little Escambia Creek at Wolf Log Road. (Escambia County) All species — Do not eat (Mercury)
• Murder Creek Between the confluence with Burnt Corn Creek and Conecuh River (Escambia County) All species — Do not eat (Mercury)
• Pea River, approximately 0.5 miles downstream of Beaverdam Creek/Pea River confluence, south of Elba.. (Coffee County) All species — Do not eat (Mercury)
• Perdido River in vicinity of U.S. 90 bridge crossing. (Baldwin County) All species — Do not eat (Mercury)
• Persimmon Creek at Alabama 106, west of Georgiana. (Butler County) All species —Do not eat (Mercury)
• Sepulga River in the vicinity of Brooklyn. (Escambia County) All species — Do not eat (Mercury)
• Yellow River At County Road 4 bridge. (Covington County) All species — Do not eat (Mercury)

The full list of 2025 fish consumption advisories can be found here, sorted by region of the state.

Some of the advisories warn that people should not eat any fish at all or limit their consumption of certain species in a given time period. ADPH considers one 8 oz. portion of fish to be a meal.

In general, ADPH says that larger, older fish tend to have higher levels of contaminants because the fish build up levels of harmful substances over time.

Women who are pregnant or nursing and children under 14 years old are considered more at-risk, according to the ADPH advisory.

“Developing bodies, such as infants and small children, are at a greater risk since their brains and nervous systems are still forming. The body naturally removes small amounts of contaminants, like mercury, but contaminants can build up in the body if too much is consumed,” the report says.

Those groups are advised to:

• Not eat any king mackerel, shark, swordfish, or tilefish.
• Limit white (albacore) tuna to 6 ounces a week.
• Eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.
• Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas.
• Follow the recommendations listed above when feeding fish and shellfish to young children, but serve smaller portions.

The advisories are meant to help people avoid eating too much mercury, PCBs or PFOS with their fish.

Mercury is a natural substance that can be found in greater concentrations due to human activity, particularly from burning coal or other fossil fuels that release mercury into the air. Modern coal-fired power plants are required to use technology to reduce mercury emissions.

Mercury is a neurotoxin and can have negative effects on unborn children, impacting development and cognition. In adults, exposure to mercury can cause kidney damage, nervous system damage or heart disease, though that is less common.

PCBs and PFOS are man-made chemicals that can be found in high levels in waterways because both chemicals are extremely long-lasting and do not easily break down in a natural setting.