Contaminated fish alert: High mercury, PCBs in certain Columbia River species
Eating locally caught fish from the Columbia River might sound like a delicious idea, but if those fish aren't traveling through they could be contaminated.

Oregon and Washington state health authorities warned the public on Monday that so-called resident fish were tainted with high levels of mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs.

The advisory does not apply to migratory fish, such as salmon, steelhead, American shad and lamprey, which swim along the river. But fish that spend their whole lives in one area are at risk of building up contaminants that can cause health problem for people. Those species include bass, bluegill, yellow perch, crappie, walleye, carp, catfish, suckers and sturgeon.

Oregon and Washington state authorities urged people to avoid eating any of these species that are caught between Bonneville Dam to Ruckel Creek, which is located one .... http://www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2013/09/contaminated_fish_alert_high_m.html