Fish for free this weekend

New York State residents and visitors may fish for free without a fishing license in the state’s lakes, ponds, rivers and streams during the weekend of June 27-28, and Veteran’s Day, November 11. Saltwater anglers may also fish in marine waters for migratory marine fish species without enrolling in the Recreational Marine Fishing Registry. Anyone 16 years of age and older who wants to fish on dates that are not designated as state free fishing days must have a state fishing license. Fishing licenses are valid for one year from the date of purchase. Anglers are reminded that although the requirement for a license and enrolling in the registry has been waived during free fishing weekend, all other regulations remain in effect.

The New York State Department of Health [DOH] has released a new publication with advice for eating fish from waters in New York City and Long Island. Each year, DOH reviews contaminant data from fish collected from different waters by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

Women of childbearing age (under 50) and children under 15 are advised to limit the kinds of fish they eat and how often they eat them. Women who eat highly contaminated fish and become pregnant may have an increased risk of having children who are slower to develop and learn because chemicals may have a greater effect on the development of young children or unborn babies, and may be passed on in mother’s milk. PCBs, dioxin and chlordane are found at higher levels in the fat of fish. It is important to reduce fat by properly trimming, skinning and cooking your catch:

• Cooking or soaking fish cannot eliminate the chemicals, but heat from cooking melts some of the fat. Do not use drippings in sauces or gravies.

• Do not eat the soft “green stuff” (tomalley, mustard, liver or hepatopancreas) found in the body section of crabs and lobsters, and discard cooking liquid. Tomalley can contain high levels of chemicals, including PCBs, dioxin and cadmium.

• Bacteria, viruses or parasites can be in or on fish. Keep harvested fish cold. Wear gloves when skinning and trimming and wash hands and surfaces often when preparing Keep raw foods separate. Cook fish and shellfish thoroughly before eating.

• Try to space out your fish meals. If the advice is that you can eat up to four meals a month, don’t eat them all in the same week. This is particularly important for women and young children.

You can read the new guidelines at www.health.ny.gov/fish.