ALBANY, N.Y. (June 21, 2021)- The New York State Department of Health today issued new advice about eating fish caught in New York waters that allows the entire family to eat fish from Lake Ontario, Niagara River, and most of the St.Lawrence River.
People Also Ask
Today, Lake Ontario is home - and a source of drinking water - to 9-million people living in Ontario, Canada and New York State, USA.
The most dangerous predator in the Great Lakes is the sea lamprey, which was actually introduced as an invasive species. Primarily, it goes after a sports fish called the lake trout, often wounding them as they kill them off. It is also attracted to the blood and bodily fluids of any creature.
As the last lake in the chain, Ontario receives the accumulation of contaminants from the other Great Lakes in addition to the agricultural runoff, and urban and industrial waste discharges within its own basin.
Yes!Lake Ontario offers fantastic swimming at many beaches. Not all beaches are 'public beaches', some are naturally occurring 'wild beaches' along Lake Ontario's shoreline. Local Health Units often test water quality at public beaches and lifeguards may supervise swimmers in designated swimming areas.
Along with Lake Erie, Lake Ontario is the most polluted of the Great Lakes. This contributes to potential health risks associated with bathing in its waters, an issue that the other three Great Lakes do not add to the mix.