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Role of self-caught fish in total fish consumption rates for recreational fishermen: average consumption for some species exceeds allowable intake

Studies of fish consumption focus on recreational or subsistence fishing, on awareness and adherence to advisories, consumption patterns, and contaminants in fish. Yet the general public obtains their fish from commercial sources. In this paper I examine fish consumption patterns of recreational fishermen in New Jersey to determine: (1) consumption rates for self-caught fish and for other fish, (2) meals consumed per year, (3) average meal size, and average daily intake of mercury, and (4) variations in these parameters for commonly-consumed fish, and different methods of computing intake. Over 300 people were interviewed at fishing sites and fishing clubs along the New Jersey shore. Consumption patterns of anglers varied by species of fish. From 2 to 90% of the anglers ate the different fish species, and between 9 and 75% gave fish away to family or friends. Self-caught fish made up 7–92% of fish diets depending upon species. On average, self-caught fish were eaten for only 2–6 months of the year, whereas other fish (commercial or restaurant) were eaten up to 10 months a year. Anglers consumed from 5 to 36 meals of different fish a year, which resulted in intake of mercury ranging from 0.01 to 0.22 μg/kg/day. Average intake of Mako shark, swordfish, and tuna (sushi, canned tuna, self-caught tuna) exceeded the US Environmental Protection Agency’s oral, chronic reference dose for mercury of 0.1 μg/kg/day. However, computing intake using consumption for the highest month results in average mercury intake exceeding the reference dose for striped bass and bluefish as well. These data, and the variability in consumption patterns, have implications for risk assessors, risk managers, and health professionals.