The Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) monitors fish for the presence of environmental contaminants and alerts the public through bans (closures) and advisories when a threat to human health may occur from eating contaminated fish. In waters with consumption bans, possession and consumption of fish and/or shellfish is prohibited. A consumption advisory is a recommendation to limit consumption to specified quantities, species, and sizes of fish. For more information, visit the TDSHS website:  http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/seafood/

Photo credit: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

* * *

Texas Aquatic Science was written and edited by author Rudolph Rosen, Ph.D. Sandra Johnson, Ph.D. served as educational consultant and authored the accompanying Teacher’s Guide. Videos were produced by Randall Maxwell. Texas Aquatic Science is a cooperative education project sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife, The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University, and funding partner, the Ewing Halsell Foundation, San Antonio.