DHEC adds some Pee Dee fish to advisory list

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control recently released an updated fish advisory for South Carolina residents.

The advisory adds a number of fish in several locations to the consumption advisory list, including, in the Pee Dee, channel catfish from Black Creek, chain pickerel from Black River, black crappie and bluegill sunfish from Forest Lake and blue catfish from the Little Pee Dee River.

DHEC spokeswoman Clair Boatwright said the update is something the office does every year to keep the public apprised of potential health concerns.

“We just want people to be informed and aware,” she said. “We just want the public to be aware so they make informed decisions.”

This year the updated list included adding signage to bodies of water with advisories in place, Boatwright said.

“What we’ve done new this year is to post signs across effected waterways so that someone who is just walking with a fishing pole — who may not have a laptop with them — can assess their risk,” she said. “We’ve also tried to make them easily interpretable.”

Boatwright said the signs have clear depictions to go along with the message indicating a body of water with an fish advisory in place.

But one local doctor said he thinks there should be even more stringent standards in place regarding the mercury content in fish.

Dr. Tim Dancy, who practices at McLeod Family/Sports Medicine in Florence, said he thinks DHEC should offer mercury testing through its facility for people who think they might be contaminated with high levels of mercury.

“I think it is important to publicize the limits that are considered safe,” Dancy said. “But it is also important to offer testing to those people who are at most risk for mercury exposure. That would include people who regularly eat (fish) from the Great and Little Pee Dee rivers.”

Dancy said DHEC has refused to offer direct testing for people concerned about mercury contamination so far. The patients first must go to their primary doctor and be referred to DHEC offices for testing.

Dancy said that’s just not good enough.

“It (makes it into) two separate days and events, so it just doesn’t happen,” he said.

Dancy said children and pregnant women especially should avoid fish from those rivers.

“Based on the age and risk factors, children under 6 and pregnant women or women who are considering being pregnant should not eat any fish from that area,” he said.

People need to take special precautions to be aware of the advisories in place before going fishing, Dancy said.

“You have to be careful. The updates are changing,” he said. “I recommend checking with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and DHEC to get the latest recommendations before you eat anything from those areas.”