Is it safe to eat fish from Lake Erie?

The truth is that all of the fish in Lake Erie are safe to eat. But, some of them should only be eaten about once a month, and a few should be eaten less frequently than that. Years ago, Lake Erie was extremely polluted, so badly that some of the rivers that fed it actually caught fire from all the chemical wastes.



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Mercury concentrations in top predator fish are equal to or approaching the concentrations measured at the beginning of the monitoring program in the late 1970s. Following the change, mercury levels have been stable in lakes Huron and Ontario and appear to be increasing in lakes Superior and Erie.

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The water is drinkable and the amount of toxic chemicals has declined. “There's good news, but it is coupled with the sobering reality that we have significant problems that linger,” said Brian Smith, associate executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

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Walleye. Lake Erie is known as the “Walleye Capital of the World.” Walleye are the most popular Lake Erie fish species to fish for. The average size of a Lake Erie walleye caught in PA is between 4-6 lbs, but we often catch walleye over 8 lbs. Walleye is often considered one of the best tasting of any freshwater fish.

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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.

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