Special talk about fish consumption advisories in the Spokane Watershed

As part of the Riverkeeper’s ongoing series “toxic talks and tours” we are pleased to invite you to a free talk about fish consumption advisories in the Spokane Watershed.  The details are below.

-Lee First

Outreach Coordinator
Spokane Riverkeeper
leef@cforjustice.org
509-464-7622

Title of Talk:  Fish Consumption Advisories in the Spokane Watershed – What You Need to Know

Date: November 6, 2018

Time and Place:  Noon – 1:30pm, Magic Lantern Theater, 25 W. Main, Spokane

The Washington State Department of Health issues advice about eating fish from specific waterbodies when chemicals found in certain fish species may harm the public’s health. As the lead toxicologist for the state’s fish advisory program, David McBride evaluates data collected by other agencies and determines whether contaminants found in fish are harmful when consumed.

Fishing opportunities in the Spokane River abound, and many groups are working to protect water quality and promote fishing.  At the same time, the Spokane River has serious pollution issues from industrial, municipal, and stormwater discharges that have transferred into fish and their tissue.  One of the results of this pollution is that some fish species are unsafe to eat, and/or the public should only consume limited amounts of certain species.

In addition to the Spokane River, fish consumption advisories also exist in other areas of the state, in both fresh and marine waters.  In our area, there are current advisories for Little Spokane River, Columbia River, and Liberty Lake.  The Department of Health also provided precautionary statewide advisories on certain fish species due to the frequency of bioaccumulative contaminants such as mercury often being elevated.

Attend this talk to learn more about fish consumption rates, what species of fish are listed on the advisories, and what the healthy choices for fish consumption are.

David McBride is a senior toxicologist with the Washington State Department of Health.  He holds a Bachelor’s in Biology and Chemistry from California State University and a Master’s in Environmental Toxicology from the University of Washington.  He served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand where he directed a rural hospital clinical laboratory.  After his service, David worked as a research assistant at Tuft’s New England Medical Center in Boston.  Mr. McBride joined the Department of Health in 1991 as a staff toxicologist and has served as lead toxicologist for the state’s fish advisory program since 2000.

The Spokane Riverkeeper is a vigilant guardian and advocate for the Spokane River and its watershed. We work for the restoration and conservation of the river’s ecological health and aesthetic integrity. As a member of the international Waterkeeper Alliance movement, Riverkeeper’s first priority is to defend the river against pollution and polluters.

This talk has been paid for with funds from the Department of Ecology. While the content is reviewed for grant consistency, it does not necessarily constitute endorsement by Ecology.