Eating Vermont Fish can be Good for You and the Environment

WATERBURY, VT – Eat healthy — and help the environment? You can
do both according to a new Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department
webpage that reminds anglers of some of the benefits of eating the
fish they catch.

People fish for a variety of reasons including connecting with
friends and family, spending time outdoors, enjoying the thrill of
catching fish, and harvesting food for the table. While many
anglers practice catch-and-release fishing, and take great care to
release fish alive, keeping some fish for the table is also a
popular tradition in Vermont and can provide several rewards beyond
a fun day on the water.

Vermont’s fish are nutritious, providing a healthy source of
protein as well as omega-3 fatty acids that are good for the brain
and heart. The new webpage includes a table listing some common
fish and meats and their omega-3 content.

Eating Vermont fish can also be good for the environment because
it means “eating local” — requiring less fossil fuel to get the
meal to the dinner table. Vermont’s fish come from fisheries that
are managed sustainably, in contrast with some ocean fisheries that
have suffered from over-harvest; and the cost of a fishing license
goes directly toward conserving fish populations and their
habitats.

Some people are concerned about mercury in fish. Fish is a good
source of protein, and low in fat. You can get the benefits of
eating fish by following the Vermont Fish Advisory guidelines about
the types of fish to eat, how often and how much you eat. Specific
advisories have been developed for women of childbearing age –
particularly pregnant women, women planning to get pregnant and
breast feeding mothers – and children age 6 years and younger.
There are also advisories for all Vermonters. Remember to consider
all sources of fish you eat when making your meal choices.

“Our understanding of the risks and benefits of eating fish has
continued to evolve over the past few years, and the simple message
is that fish is good food when you choose wisely,” said Jud
Kratzer, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department fisheries
biologist.

Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s webpage on eating fish can be viewed
at http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/fish_advisory.cfm and includes
a link to the Vermont Department of Health’s fish consumption
advisory page
(http://healthvermont.gov/enviro/fish_alert/documents/Fish_Alert_2007.pdf).