The West Virginia Department of Health (DH), in partnership with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, has released the 2026 Sport Fish Consumption Advisories, which feature fewer restrictions this year due to improved state water quality that reinforces West Virginia's position as a premier outdoor recreation destination.
The annual consumption advisories help West Virginia anglers and their families make educated choices about eating the fish they catch from West Virginia waters. Based on a review of new and historic fish tissue data, West Virginia Sport Fish Advisories have changed for 2026. Key updates include the complete removal of the local advisory for black bass at Sutton Lake and a greatly relaxed advisory for smallmouth bass in the Shenandoah River, which now applies only to fish larger than 12 inches.
Low levels of chemicals like polychlorinated biphenyls, mercury, selenium, and dioxin can be found in fish living in specific waterbodies. Consumption advisories are intended to assist anglers in determining where fish should be harvested, what species of fish to eat, the amount and frequency of consuming wild fish, and how to best prepare and cook their harvest. Advisory recommendations are based on individuals most vulnerable to experiencing long-term impacts from consuming harvested fish. Women of childbearing age, children, and individuals regularly consuming harvested fish are particularly susceptible to contaminants that build up over time. Individuals in these categories should cautiously follow consumption guidelines.
These advisories cover only sport fish caught in West Virginia waters. Safety regulations and advisories for fish in the marketplace are the responsibility of the US Food and Drug Administration: www.epa.gov/fish-tech/epa-fda-advice-about-eating-fish-and-shellfish.
An advisory only provides guidance and should not be viewed as law or regulation.
