DHEC to post signs for fish advisory issued last May

South Carolina DHEC has issued a health advisory for certain fish from Lake Wateree after levels of PCBs have been found in those species. The advisory tells people to limit their consumption of those fish. The advisory was prompted by results of testing done by DHEC after an EPA report came out last fall.

DHEC spokesman, Adam Myrick:

Blue catfish and striped bass:  our recommendation is no more than one meal a month for those. Largemouth bass: our recommendation for those from Lake Wateree is no more than one meal per week.

The advisory is based on about eight ounces of fish per meal.

Myrick says that DHEC issued the fish advisory last May, but are just now getting ready to post signs.

It’s taken this long to get the signs ready to go. The Department of Corrections is in the process of producing the signs for us. And as soon as we get them from the Department of Corrections, we will then install the signs and put those up around the lake at several public boat landings.

Myrick says in addition to the advisory on the DHEC website and signs posting the warning around Lake Wateree,  printed warnings were distributed.

We print hard copies. We distribute those to bait and tackle shops, they’re at our local county public health departments around the state, they are at OB-GYN offices around the state, because this is a very important issue for pregnant women to think about. This is just a part of our regular process on that.

For more information, go to SCDHEC website.