Can You Safely Eat Fish from the Delta?
1h 25m | Jul 31, 2026This special episode of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report takes a closer look at fish consumption advisories, mercury, PFAS, and what anglers should know before eating fish from local waterways. Nick Williams is joined by Cassie Bates and Morgan Bishop of Mobile Baykeeper to talk through how Alabama’s fish consumption advisories are created, who collects and publishes the data, and why those advisories matter for anglers who regularly eat bass, catfish, crappie, redfish, speckled trout, and other local fish.
Morgan and Cassie explain how mercury and PFAS can build up in fish over time, especially in larger, older predator species, and why long-term exposure is the main health concern. They also discuss why many waterways in Coastal Alabama carry “do not eat” or limited-consumption advisories, how sample sizes and testing gaps can leave anglers with unanswered questions, and why a lack of an advisory does not necessarily mean a waterway has been tested and cleared. The conversation also covers practical ways to reduce risk, including eating smaller fish, skinning fillets, trimming fat, choosing cooking methods that let fat drain away, and paying attention to which species and waterways are listed in state advisories.
The episode closes with a broader discussion of where mercury and PFAS come from in the first place. Cassie and Morgan also share how Mobile Baykeeper is working to push for more fish tissue testing, better public data, stronger pollution reduction efforts, and more help from local anglers who want to support healthier waterways and safer fish for Coastal Alabama communities.
Link to 2026 Fish Consumption Advisories: https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/tox/assets/2026_fishadvisory.pdf
Link to ADEM Report with Granular Fish Tissue Data: https://adem.alabama.gov/water/water-quality/water-quality-reports
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