Regional Fish Advisory Programs
Hudson River Fish Advisory Outreach Project
The Hudson River Fish Advisory Outreach Project is a multi-year initiative of the New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH). The goal of the Project is for all anglers and others who eat fish from the Hudson River to know about and follow the New York State fish advisories. The project area extends from Hudson Falls to the New York City Battery (PDF).
Developing Culturally Appropriate Materials for Burmese Communities
Involving audiences in developing educational materials increases their usefulness and creates distribution channels to share information. Since 2021, NYS DOH has been engaging Burmese and Karen community members to develop culturally appropriate materials about eating the fish they catch. The Department made connections with community partners who work with refugees and new arrivals.
In 2022 and 2023, the Department held multiple focus groups in Albany, Syracuse, and Buffalo with Karen, Karenni, Burmese, and Rohingya anglers. As a result, NYS DOH developed regional guides in Burmese and Karen that incorporate health information in an accessible way based on community needs and feedback.
St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Fish Advisory Communications Program
The NYS DOH worked with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT) in 2014 to enhance their fish and game advisory communications program as part of a three year grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative program. NYS DOH's key partner in this project was the SRMT Environment Division, with whom they collaborated with to enhance their fish and game health advisory program.
NYS DOH worked directly with the SRMT to assist them in developing their own fish and game advisory messages. NYS DOH and the SRMT Environment Division created a user friendly and positive fish advisory booklet that conveys cultural importance of fishing, messages regarding the sources of contamination, health benefits of eating fish, and describes activities that will lower the risk of exposure.
Healthy Fishing Communities Project: Great Lakes Biomonitoring
The Healthy Fishing Communities Project: Great Lakes Biomonitoring was a joint effort between the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the NYS DOH. This project measured the level of chemicals and metals in:
- Licensed sport anglers who fish in Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, and nearby rivers and waterways and eat their catch; and
- Refugees from Burma who eat fish caught from Buffalo area waters.
The project results were used to develop public health actions to prevent and reduce exposures to these contaminants in the future.
For more information, please call 518-402-7950 or e-mail beoe@health.ny.gov or visit the Chemicals and Health page.
