How much fish are we eating and why does it matter?

Washington Department of Ecology wants to know what you think about proposed changes in the state’s fish consumption rates, or, how much fish people are really eating. A public workshop is being presented on May 15 in the Spokane Valley to discuss the issue, which is getting a lot of attention across Washington. Why do fish consumption rates matter? Knowing how much fish people are eating and who is eating it is vital to determining what the state’s regulations should say about cleaning up and protecting the water in our state. Having this information helps in Ecology’s work to update regulatory standards for in-water environmental cleanup and water pollution discharges. Eastern Washington’s fresh waters are home to important stocks of fish. Protecting the health of these resources is important for the state’s environment, economy and people. This affects all of us because of actions we take to help clean up water and because of personal decisions we make about eating fish, which is an important part of a healthy diet. The workshop – part of a continuing public dialogue – will take place from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., May 15 at CenterPlace Regional Event Center. For directions and details, click here to see Ecology’s news release: here.