Michigan anglers checking the latest rules on Wednesday found a fresh set of marching orders for their catch, as state health officials posted updated Eat Safe Fish guides that change how often residents can safely eat locally caught fish. The revisions tighten limits on several popular Great Lakes species and add a handful of "Do Not Eat" listings for specific lakes and rivers. Officials say the guidance is meant to protect pregnant people, children and other groups who are most vulnerable to chemical exposure.
In a June 8 notice, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said it published the 2026 Eat Safe Fish Guides to reflect the latest testing and risk calculations, according to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The agency says the guides are posted on its Eat Safe Fish portal and can also be requested in print by calling the environmental health hotline.
Local reporting has highlighted what changed and where. As reported by FOX 2 Detroit, the new package covers 696 water bodies, with 59 guidelines relaxed and 65 made more protective. Sample entries include Lake Huron carp listed as "Do Not Eat," Lake Huron Atlantic salmon limited to two servings per month, Lake Michigan yellow perch capped at four servings per month and Lake Superior smelt allowed at eight servings per month. Other popular catches such as walleye and trout carry limits that vary by lake and by contaminant.
Why the rules moved
State scientists base consumption advice on chemical testing of the edible portion of fish, using lab data from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy's Fish Contaminant Monitoring Program that Michigan health officials rely on. Reporting has pointed to PFAS, especially PFOS, alongside long-standing mercury, PCB and dioxin concerns as the main drivers of this year's tougher recommendations, according to Bridge Michigan. MDHHS toxicologists calculate serving recommendations to balance fish's health benefits against the risks of chemicals that build up in tissue.
How to check before you eat
Before cooking your catch, officials say you should look up your county or specific lake or river PDF on the MDHHS Eat Safe Fish portal or call the environmental health hotline at 1-800-648-6942, according to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The downloadable guides list species, size notes, the chemicals of concern and exact serving recommendations so you can match the advice to the fish you actually brought home. If you rely on local fish for regular meals, officials say to treat "Do Not Eat" listings as absolute and consider alternate sources of omega-3s while cleanups continue.
Anglers who fish near known Areas of Concern, including the Clinton River, Detroit River, Kalamazoo River, Manistique River, River Raisin and the Saginaw River and Bay, are urged to follow area-specific limits while monitoring and cleanup work continue, per EGLE. The agency notes many AOCs remain eligible for federal restoration funds through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, but advisories will remain in place until testing shows fish are safe to eat. For the lab results behind any advisory, residents can consult EGLE's contaminant monitoring pages and the MDHHS reports linked from the Eat Safe Fish portal.
