Are coarse fish safe to eat from English rivers?

[Billy1]

What does everyone think about the safety of eating coarse fish from our rivers? My main worries are chemical contaminants such as agricultural run off, pollution from factories and even things like lead shot - the sort of stuff that can't be destroyed through thorough cooking.

My guess would be that it's OK in moderation but not something you would want to do every time you go fishing?

Cheers

 

[British Red]

I thought fishermen had stopped using lead shot?

 

[santaman2000]

I thought fishermen had stopped using lead shot?

:You_Rock_

 

[Billy1]

It's still allowed as far as I am aware

 

[ozzy1977]

Lead is allowed if over 1oz or u der number 8 size

 

[Kepis]

Lead shot is still legal to use in size 8 and smaller anything bigger has to be non toxic, as far as eating fish, if you remove the fish (with the riparian owners permission of course, otherwise it's called poaching) from an area away from habitation, sewage works etc they should be fine, but of course you dont know how far that fish has travelled and what areas it's swam through on it's journey, not to mention what it might have eaten - your choice i guess, i do eat fish from one of my local rivers (chalk stream), but i also know the river doesn't run though habitation or industry, it does run through farmland and there is without doubt some run off, but im happy to eat the trout i catch and it's never done me any harm.

 

[Billy1]

Lead shot is still legal to use in size 8 and smaller anything bigger has to be non toxic, as far as eating fish, if you remove the fish (with the riparian owners permission of course, otherwise it's called poaching) from an area away from habitation, sewage works etc they should be fine, but of course you dont know how far that fish has travelled and what areas it's swam through on it's journey, not to mention what it might have eaten - your choice i guess, i do eat fish from one of my local rivers (chalk stream), but i also know the river doesn't run though habitation or industry, it does run through farmland and there is without doubt some run off, but im happy to eat the trout i catch and it's never done me any harm.

Yeah I wouldn't worry at all if I was in an unpolluted area, but where I live there are towns and factories etc near by...

 

[santaman2000]

Lead shot is still legal to use in size 8 and smaller....

For fishing!? You might want to re-read BR's post. LOL

 

[ozzy1977]

For fishing!? You might want to re-read BR's post. LOL

Not at all, lead is legal in certain sizes

 

[British Red]

For fishing!? You might want to re-read BR's post. LOL

I meant for fishing?

 

[santaman2000]

I meant for fishing?

That is what you asked, "I thought fishermen had stopped using lead shot?"

 

[Toddy]

Lead shot.....wee split lead weights to wrap tight around a fishing line.
Mostly illegal because they were poisoning swans, etc.,

http://www.gofishing.co.uk/Angling-...g-Tips2/Fishing-Charts--Guides/Guide-to-shot/

M

 

[Kepis]

For fishing!? You might want to re-read BR's post. LOL

Not at all Santaman, have a read of the following link on UK Fishery rules regarding lead shot https://www.gov.uk/freshwater-rod-fishing-rules/tackle-you-can-use, btw and unbeknown to you, im a Fishery Manager and fully trained Water Bailiff, so have a fairly good knowledge on this subject.

 

[santaman2000]

Not at all Santaman, have a read of the following link on UK Fishery rules regarding lead shot https://www.gov.uk/freshwater-rod-fishing-rules/tackle-you-can-use, btw and unbeknown to you, im a Fishery Manager and fully trained Water Bailiff, so have a fairly good knowledge on this subject.

Ahh. We're thinking at cross purposes I believe. You're speaking of split-shot as weights? Yes, I can see that as a fishing use now.

I was thinking the OP was asking about pollution from shot pellets settling from shotguns used for waterfowl. Hence I thought BR was joking about using a shotgun to collect fish.

 

[Billy1]

Ahh. We're thinking at cross purposes I believe. You're speaking of split-shot as weights? Yes, I can see that as a fishing use now.

I was thinking the OP was asking about pollution from shot pellets settling from shotguns used for waterfowl. Hence I thought BR was joking about using a shotgun to collect fish.

Ah sorry I should of been more clear. Yeah I meant split-shot lol.

 

[scottpix]

I would think its ok to eat, after all the fish don`t seem to mind, if they look dodgy don`t eat, simples

It will be fine.

 

[santaman2000]

Ah sorry I should of been more clear. Yeah I meant split-shot lol.

It was my fault I reckon. TBH either source would create the same pollutant though.

 

[Joonsy]

i haven't heard of eastern europeans dropping dead, probably the largest population of coarse fish eaters in the UK !!!

 

[Billy1]

i haven't heard of eastern europeans dropping dead, probably the largest population of coarse fish eaters in the UK !!!

I'm not worried about dropping dead though, more about the gradual accumulation of toxic chemicals and heavy metals into the body potentially causing long term health problems.

Also, I don't know how clean the rivers are in Eastern Europe compared to in England, or whether there have been any studies into mortality rates or health problems of Eastern Europeans with diets including lots of coarse river fish compared to those who don't!

 

[santaman2000]

I'm not worried about dropping dead though, more about the gradual accumulation of toxic chemicals and heavy metals into the body potentially causing long term health problems....

The obvious potential contributors would be lead as you mentioned and possibly mercury then. Maybe even arsenic? I've no idea what the levels of any of those are in your area though. Would it be possible to just have a sample of your catch tested? Anybody know?