2025:
Are Fish from the Rogue River SAFE to Eat?
- To access the 2025 Eat Safe Fish Guide click the image above -
Many people enjoy fishing on Michigan's lakes and rivers, but it's more important than ever to check the guidelines for which fish and how much are safe to eat! These guidelines are updated frequently to add new data from fish analyses and incorporate changes due to emerging science. You can find the 2025 updates on the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services website with fish guidelines for water bodies in each of Michigan's counties.
Of particular interest in the Rogue River Watershed are the updates to PFOS/PFAS guidelines. These updates were made as a result of:
The updated toxicity value for PFOS (Perfluorooctane sulfanate - belongs to the larger family of chemicals collectively referred to as PFAS) has been SIGNIFICANTLY LOWERED this year from the value that was previously approved back in 2014, decreasing recommended consumption levels from 14 ng/kg-day (amount per body weight per day) to 2.89 ng/kg-day. This update results from findings in 2024 showing that "hepatic, immune, cardiovascular and developmental effects are the most strongly supported non-cancer health outcomes associated with PFOS exposure"*. Additionally, other possible sources of PFOS exposure are also taken into account - not just that stemming from fish consumption.
To sum up - most people are exposed to PFOS/PFAS in ways other than fish consumption, making it even more important to monitor the amount of fish you eat!
PFOS/PFAS, like other chemicals such as Mercury or DDT, bioaccumulates in the tissues of fish and other organisms after it has been absorbed from its environment, which means that high concentrations can be passed on to the animals (or humans!) that consume them. Once present in bodily tissues such as blood, bones, fat, or muscle, these toxins are not broken down. Therefore, it's critical to be aware of water quality concerns BEFORE you fish! Learn more from this article.
- Continued increase in understanding of PFOS toxicity.
- Continued increase in understanding of PFOS blood levels in general human population.
The updated toxicity value for PFOS (Perfluorooctane sulfanate - belongs to the larger family of chemicals collectively referred to as PFAS) has been SIGNIFICANTLY LOWERED this year from the value that was previously approved back in 2014, decreasing recommended consumption levels from 14 ng/kg-day (amount per body weight per day) to 2.89 ng/kg-day. This update results from findings in 2024 showing that "hepatic, immune, cardiovascular and developmental effects are the most strongly supported non-cancer health outcomes associated with PFOS exposure"*. Additionally, other possible sources of PFOS exposure are also taken into account - not just that stemming from fish consumption.
To sum up - most people are exposed to PFOS/PFAS in ways other than fish consumption, making it even more important to monitor the amount of fish you eat!
PFOS/PFAS, like other chemicals such as Mercury or DDT, bioaccumulates in the tissues of fish and other organisms after it has been absorbed from its environment, which means that high concentrations can be passed on to the animals (or humans!) that consume them. Once present in bodily tissues such as blood, bones, fat, or muscle, these toxins are not broken down. Therefore, it's critical to be aware of water quality concerns BEFORE you fish! Learn more from this article.
*Information posted by the Rogue River Watershed Partners in July, 2025; written by Jessica Gregory