How do I know that the fish I buy in the market doesn’t come from the contaminated areas of LA and Orange Counties?
Commercial fishing for white croaker is banned in the area of the Palos Verdes Shelf that has the highest known DDTs and PCBs contamination in the ocean sediment. In general, the fish sold in local stores should not come from the affected areas. More fish sampling is occurring to better define if the area where commercial fishing for white croaker is banned should be expanded. Some white croaker with high levels of DDTs and PCBs were found in a few markets. Some people who may be supplying fish to markets may not be aware of these contaminated areas. Efforts to provide education and outreach to market owners to promote buying fish from approved sources are underway. The USEPA samples and test fish from markets in Los Angeles and Orange Counties to determine whether highly contaminated white croakers are still reaching the local retail markets.
