EPA Consumption Study Has Come to a Close!
Anglers can finally catch a break! At least from all the questions the EPA Consumption Study team has been grilling them on over the past year. The study, which started February 2012, recently ended this January 2013. The survey team surveyed Southern California anglers from Seal Beach to Santa Monica in order to understand their consumption habits of eating certain types of local contaminated fish, such as white croaker, barracuda, topsmelt, barred sand bass and black croaker.
During the yearlong study, the survey team learned quite a bit about the local anglers. For example, they found that the angler community in Southern California is comprised of a socially diverse group of men and women that speak a range of different languages. Despite coming from various backgrounds, their respect for one another and the sport is mightily admirable.
At first the survey team may have looked like they were a fish out of water, but they quickly got the hang of reeling in anglers and building a trusting relationship with them.
The study was a mutual learning experience for anglers and the survey team.
According to some anglers, the days of catching barracuda and buckets of corbina right off the pier are long gone. Dwindling fish populations, higher regulations, and an influx of outreach have made anglers more conscious of the situation. But all in all, anglers are still out there just to have a good time. As anglers shared their experiences and concerns about the future of fishing, a conclusion can be made: Make Protecting Fishin’ Our Mission!
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However, I was expecting more information… did you find any other important information?
I started fishing since summer of 2012, and going to a pier regularly and bringing fish home almost every weekend and consuming them. I’d like to know if it is still safe to consume them regularly as posted in the website, about 2 servings a week (depends on the spieces).
I appreciate your honest answers.
I’m one of the people who work on the Consumption Study project, so thank you very much for raising such good questions. We’re currently in the process of analyzing the data we collected after being in the field for the year–I’m sure you can imagine how many data sets that consists of! When we’ve completed the analysis we’ll be able to provide answers to the questions you posed: How many fish anglers take home, and what kind of fish they take home. The information we produce will be able to provide insight on things such as what local fishermen are catching, if they’re consuming what they’re catching, what they’re consuming and in what quantities, etc. In terms of a timeline, we’re hoping to have something we can share with the public in the summer, which I realize is quite a wait.
In the mean time, continue to do as you’ve been doing and follow the advice we have posted on the website!
Thanks for your comment and your interest in the project!