Assessing Fish Consumption BUI at Great Lakes Areas of Concern: Toronto case study

Session: 05. - Within Reach: The Path to De-listing Toronto and Region as a Great Lakes Area of Concern

Satyendra Bhavsar, Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, [email protected]
Ken Drouillard, University of Windsor, Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, [email protected]
Rex Tang, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, [email protected]
Laud Matos, Environment and Climate Change Canada, [email protected]
Margaret Neff, University of Toronto, [email protected]

Abstract

Beneficial use of fish consumption was designated impaired in the 1980s in many Areas of Concern (AOCs) across the North American Great Lakes. Here we present generic re-designation criteria and a three-tier Assessment Framework to assess the status of the fish consumption BUI using the Toronto and Region AOC as a case study.  Tier 1 assessment identified that consumption advisories for many resident fish on the Toronto waterfront are non-restrictive (8+ meals/month). Advisory assessments in Tier 1 found that most migratory fish species, Carp and White Sucker are still restrictive in some cases preventing from a ‘not impaired’ re-designation.  Tier 2 Comparison with Reference Sites found that the advisories for most local fish are either non-restrictive or similar to reference locations in Lake Ontario, but some advisories due to elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) are still more restrictive for the Toronto waterfront and do not favour a ‘not impaired’ re-designation.  An evaluation of multiple lines of evidence in Tier 3 including fish contaminant trend analyses resulted in outcomes ranging from neutral (not conclusive) to not impaired.  As a precautionary approach, the impaired status of the BUI should be maintained to ensure continued PCB declines in fish. 

1. Keyword
fishing

2. Keyword
fish toxins

3. Keyword
toxic substances

4. Additional Keyword
PCB

5. Additional Keyword
Mercury

6. Additional Keyword
AOC