Why does Louisiana have a problem with mercury in fish?
The problem of mercury in fish is not unique to Louisiana, it is a global problem that many other states and countries are working to address. Mercury in fish is not new, either. In fact, scientists believe the levels of mercury found in our fish today are probably similar to those of the past 40 years. What is new is that we know more about mercury’s harmful effects now than we did 40 years ago, and we can better measure mercury in fish. In 1993, The Louisiana legislature began funding The Mercury Program and over the last decade the program has grown, adding additional sampling locations each year. The Louisiana Departments of Environmental Quality and Wildlife and Fisheries sample fish from lakes and rivers across the state. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals then evaluates the data that is provided and determines the need for an advisory.
