Grand Lake St. Marys fish can be eaten

ODNR information

The “do not eat” fish consumption advisory for Grand Lake St. Marys has been removed after an analysis showed no microcystin in fish from samples collected in the lake last fall.

The current results are for fish collected by Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) personnel in October 2010. Twenty-three tissue samples from four species, largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie and channel catfish, were collected and sent to a lab for analysis.

Plans are to collect and analyze more fish from Grand Lake St. Marys or other state owned lakes with blue-green algae blooms to give state officials a complete picture of toxin levels in fish tissue as microcystin levels fluctuate during the year. The “do not eat” advisory was a precaution until actual fish-tissue data was available.

Ohio EPA partners with the Ohio Department of Health and ODNR to develop consumption advisories for fish caught in Ohio. Ohio EPA, ODNR and the Ohio Department of Agriculture continue to work together to implement components of the state action plan to restore the lake.