— how often to eat your catch safely
Freshwater fish in Quebec can contain mercury, PCBs and other contaminants that bioaccumulate up the food chain — meaning predator fish (pike, walleye, lake trout, muskellunge) carry the highest levels. The MELCCFP publishes per-lake advisories (one portion = 230 g / 8 oz raw). Below: recommended monthly portions by species + who needs extra caution + how to find your specific lake's advisory.
1 portion = 230 g (8 oz) of raw fish. Adult of 60 kg. Vulnerable populations (pregnant women, women of childbearing age, children under 12) should follow stricter limits.
| Species | Mercury level | Portions/month |
|---|---|---|
| Brook trout | Low | 8+ |
| Whitefish (corégone) | Low | 8+ |
| Yellow perch | Low | 4-8 |
| Bass (smallmouth/largemouth) | Medium | 2-4 |
| Walleye | Medium | 1-2 |
| Muskellunge | High | 0-1 |
| Northern pike | High | 0-1 |
| Lake trout | High | 0-1 |
| Sturgeon | High | 0-1 |
Mercury accumulates over a fish's lifetime. A 30 cm walleye carries far less mercury than a 60 cm walleye from the same lake. Keep your smaller-sized catches for the table — release the trophies.
Children, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and women of childbearing age must apply stricter limits — generally HALF the recommended portions for the general population. For pregnancy: avoid pike, muskellunge, lake trout and sturgeon entirely.
PCBs accumulate in the fish's fatty tissue. To reduce exposure: skin and trim away fatty parts (belly fat, lateral line, dark muscle along back). Bake or grill on a rack so fat drips off — avoid frying with the fat.
The MELCCFP maintains a database of contamination measurements per Quebec lake. Some lakes show much higher contamination (impacted by old industry, hydroelectric reservoirs flooding mercury-rich soil). Check the official tool by lake name.
MELCCFP guide (donneesquebec.ca) →Source: MELCCFP — Guide de consommation du poisson de pêche sportive en eau douce (CC-BY 4.0). 1 portion = 230 g (8 oz) raw.