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Fish Smart Program

Environmental Health Services

We are fortunate to have access to fresh seafood from the San Francisco Bay and Pacific Ocean.

Many fish in the bay and ocean are healthy and safe to eat, but some fish have high levels of toxins that can harm your health and are NOT safe to eat. The resource library below includes guides to help you choose the safest fish for you and your loved ones to consume.

How Can the Fishing Community Stay Informed About the Fish Smart Program?

Environmental Health Services posts Fish Smart signs at fishing locations throughout the county to promote important consumption guidelines of safe-to-eat fish. Know a fishing spot that could use a sign? Email the Fish Smart Program Coordinator, Emilie Dirck, at edirck@smcgov.org.

Free Demonstrations and Lessons are Available to the Public

We have a dedicated staff member who will present to your health care group or adult or youth organization about the Fish Smart Program and safe-to-eat fish. You can request an informational 1:1 or group meeting in the resource library below or email Emilie Dirck, the program coordinator, at edirck@smcgov.org to learn more.

Why Choose “Safe-to-Eat” Fish?

Why eat some fish and not others? Fish are an excellent source of protein and are low in saturated fats. They also contain omega-3s that can reduce your risk of heart disease and improve brain development in children and unborn babies. However, some fish have high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and mercury. PCBs have been linked to cancer, and mercury can harm developing children’s or unborn babies’ brains. Younger women are also vulnerable to these health risks.

How do chemicals build up in fish? Where fish swim and the foods they eat determine how many chemicals may be in their bodies. Over time, predatory fish and larger, older fish will have more chemicals in their bodies.

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