EPA releases 2000 update on nation's fish advisories

June 22, 2001—The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released its annual update of the National Listing of Fish and Wildlife Advisories.

The 2000 list indicates a 7% rise in fish consumption advisories over 1999.

This increase generally reflects more extensive coverage by state monitoring programs, as well as improvements in data collection and monitoring methods.

Approximately 23% of the Nation's lake acreage and 325,500 river miles were under fish consumption advisories during all or part of 2000. All Great Lakes (which are not included in thelake acreage figure) and their connecting waters were also under advisory, as were 71% of coastal waters, including 20 National Estuary Program sites.

To view the PDF fact sheet, visit http://www.epa.gov/ost/fish/advisories/factsheet.pdf.