Can You Safely Swim in Maine Lakes Where You Shouldn’t Eat the Fish?
When I was a kid, we ate so much white perch...
It was a staple breakfast food at camp when I was young. I'd catch white perch every night after dinner, right off the dock. Then I'd clean them and throw them in the fridge for fish and eggs the next morning. Trust me, if you want a heavenly breakfast, it's pan fried white perch and eggs. Add some home fries and toast? Forget about it... So good.
Read More: Are The Fish From Maine's Lakes And Streams Safe To Eat?
But I also remember some years ago, I read about how mercury was becoming a problem in Maine's fresh waters, so I cut waaaaay back on my perch and bass consumption. In fact, Maine.gov suggests you should only make meals of freshwater fish no more than twice a month. Pregnant/nursing women and kids under 8, shouldn't have any. There are some exceptions for brook trout and landlocked salmon.
Mercury is a huge issue.
Mercury gets into our waters from air pollution. And there's not much we can do to stop it. It's at the point where it's deeply affected the amount of fish available for eating. Like I said, when I was a kid, we ate white perch almost every morning. Now you can't do it more than twice a month? Crazy.
But what about swimming in waters that are known to be contaminated with mercury? Luckily, that's not nearly as much of an issue. Mercury isn't really absorbed through the skin, so the likelihood of contamination through your skin is low. Not to mention, most lakes and ponds in Maine, aren't really pleasant for drinking.
So you're basically safe for swimming.
It does seem odd, that the water can be so volatile for the fish that live in. But, they get it the same way, really. The mercury is in the things they eat, and it just works its way up the food chain. So you can see why you'd get it if you ate too much of the fish. You're body can only process so much.
Read More: Do You Eat, Or Release, The Freshwater Fish You Catch In Maine?
And since lake water isn't often truly potable, you might as well flap your wings in it. At least we haven't hit that level yet. Plus, there's plenty of other things to keep you out of the water, like algae blooms and swimmer's itch. But for now, even though you can't the fish at camp like you used to, swim away, my friends.
Don't laugh at my perch and eggs...
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