Grandkids Can Catch ’Em But Shouldn’t Eat ’Em
It’s hard to believe this is already the fifth column of the summer! The hot weather last week combined with the 4th of July holiday resulted in a lot of grandkids in town for the fireworks and getting out on the lake. There was a lot of swimming, tubing, and general cooling off in and near the water. My friend Dick Greenan had his son, Jason, and grandkids Sean (9) and Ben (19) visiting for some fishing and wakeboarding.
I was encouraged to see a lot of youngsters out fishing with their families. Many of the families were catching sunfish and smallmouth bass and keeping some for a 4th of July fish fry. I warned some of them that the youngsters shouldn’t be eating fish from the lake. It’s pretty depressing warning grandkids they shouldn’t eat the fish they are catching!
I still remember the pride I felt when I first brought home fish the family would eat for dinner. I looked forward to sharing the bounty and learned to clean, cook, and eat fish. My Scandinavian family ate fish at least three or four times a week, especially during the summer. Fresh fish is still one of my favorite meals. Unfortunately, our grandchildren won’t have that option, at least not until they are over the age of 8. Maine Inland Fish and Wildlife (IFW) and Maine Center for Disease Control (CDC) have issued safe consumption guidelines for Maine’s freshwater fish, which are contaminated with mercury.
Pregnant and nursing women, women who may get pregnant, and children under age 8 are advised to eat NO freshwater fish from Maine’s inland waters, except that they may safely consume one meal per month of brook trout or landlocked salmon. All others are advised to eat no more than two freshwater fish meals per month, except for brook trout and landlocked salmon, which can be safely consumed once a week.
The primary source of the mercury in Maine’s lakes and rivers is air pollution from coal-fired power plants in the Midwest. These plants are being phased out, but WAY too slowly. Maine is particularly susceptible to mercury pollution because of our acidic precipitation and thin soils with little or no carbonates that can provide buffering.
There are other site-specific restrictions for other contaminants, such as PFAS, PCBs, DIOXINS, and DDT. Recently, Maine CDC issued a consumption advisory for PFAS/PFOS for fish caught in Salmon Lake and McGrath Pond. The general population should consume no more than one fish meal a month from these waters. (Children under 8 and pregnant women should consume no fish.) In the Messalonskee Stream between Rice Rips and the Kennebec, adults should consume no more than three fish meals a YEAR. Please check the IFW website above before consuming your fish. And please contact your federal legislators and ask them to support stricter air pollution standards so we can eat the fish we catch!
On a brighter note, I did get out hiking a bit and the trails are in good shape thanks to the hard work of the 7 Lakes Stewardship Committee. Each trail has a volunteer “trail steward” who hikes the trails regularly, does routine maintenance and reports more difficult projects to Dan Woughter. For French Mountain, Chris and Andy Cook are the trail stewards, and they regularly get their kids and grandkids outside to take care of the trails as a family project.
On July 5, I made my annual cleanup cruise the morning after the fireworks. Most years I get one or two bags of floating debris, fireworks remnants, dead fish, beach balls, etc. This year the lake was clean, in part because it was a smaller show, done from land, and attracted fewer boaters. Fireworks are loud and exciting but are not great for our water quality or the nesting loons raising their chicks. Every different color is from a different heavy metal. The propellant contains a lot of perchlorate and phosphorus. The most dangerous are the so-called “water kegs,” which are fired into the water and explode underwater while firing more fireworks up into the air. Many large venues like Sea World, Disney, and others are switching over to laser light shows and drone shows, which are better for water quality. With less trash to pick up, I had a lot more time to fish.
Check the 7LA website and Facebook page for upcoming events. Our Thursday afternoons, 3:00 to 4:00, Chewonki presentations are ongoing. We will also be offering regular expeditions on our new education boat on Tuesday mornings at 9:00 and Invasive Plant Workshops on Sunday mornings during the Farmers’ Market. Check with Sally (495‑6039) in the gallery if you are interested in signing up.
I encourage everyone to take advantage of the wealth of recreational opportunities this area offers. Do like they used to in “the good old days” and take a kid fishing, or on a hike, or paddling in a canoe. It’s how memories are made. Or take a parent, so they can become a kid again.
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