Jul 9, 2009 6:53 pm US/Eastern
Locally Caught Fish Not Without Health Risks
Tests Find High Levels Of Cancer-Causing PCBs And Mercury In Fish Caught In New York City Waters
By JOSH LANDIS, CBS 2 HD News
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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At one NYC store, farm-raised striped bass was selling for $8 per pound. That means that if you catch a good-sized version of its wild cousin out of the Hudson River, that fish could be worth upwards of $50.
Gregg Geller
If you're getting the "catch of the day" from New York City waters -- and more people are -- the "catch of the day" could be feeding fish fear.
Your dinner may include some unwanted ingredients.
It's a fish story and cautionary tale.
When the Daily News tested locally caught flounder and other fish -- it found high levels of cancer-causing PCBs and mercury.
The city is now tipping people off to the danger with 250 new signs that put it bluntly: "Some fish caught in New York City waters may be harmful to eat."
The warnings are a flashback to the 1970s, when toxins made all wild fish here hazardous to your health. Today, conditions are much better.
"I worked on the Upper West Side for a long time. The water was muddy, was disgusting," fisherman Vladimir Paulovici said. "Since then I've seen a tremendous transformation. The river's been much better. It's much cleaner. You know what? I don't see why not."
Add in a recession and do it yourself seafood becomes very appetizing.
At a local store, fish similar to the ones people are catching were selling at hefty prices.
It's no surprise the people eat the fish they catch. CBS 2 HD bought a farm-raised striped bass across the street for $8 a pound, which means if you catch a good-sized version of it out of the Hudson River, its wild cousin, that fish could be $40, $50 or even more.
Fishermen like Bill Grimes, who remember how bad it was, don't think there's a huge risk.
"If you look, we're in the shadow of the Verrazano Bridge. On the other side of the Verrazano it's virtually ocean, so I mean how bad here can the water actually be?" Grimes said.
It depends on who's eating the fish. The Health Department says "pregnant women, women of childbearing age and children under 15 years old should not eat fish or eels caught in these waters."
Everyone else should draw the line at one meal per month.
And, of course, there's no catch at all, if you catch and release.
Public advocates want to introduce a bill to the City Council that would require regular testing for mercury and other dangerous chemicals, in addition to the new warning signs.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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