The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has updated guidelines regarding the safe consumption of fish.

The Eat Safe Fish Guides provide consumption guidelines for eating locally caught fish. Guidelines are based on levels of chemicals found in the portions of fish that people eat — typically the fillets.

Prompted by new findings regarding the impact of perfluorooctane sulfonate –or PFOS — on human health, MDHSS has tightened some guidelines regarding safe consumption. According to a recent MDHHS press release, studies show that PFOS is more harmful to humans than previously believed.

“There are many health benefits to eating fish and the Eat Safe Fish Guides provide consumption recommendations based on the levels of certain chemicals found in fish in water bodies across the state,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state’s chief medical executive. “Michigan families can use these guidelines to help make healthy choices about the fish they eat.”

MDHHS’ Eat Safe Fish Guides are not laws or regulations. The guides are meant to serve as a resource for those who want information about which fish and how much of those fish are healthy to eat from various bodies of water.

The 2025 Eat Safe Fish Guide includes recommendations per type of fish, per county, and per body of water.

The guide for the Upper Peninsula, which is 94 pages, can be found at https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-prev/environmental-health/topics/eatsafefish/find-your-area.

MDHHS also produces a Buy Safe Fish Guide to help residents choose seafood that is lower in mercury from local grocery stores, fish markets and restaurants. The Eat Safe Fish Guides and Buy Safe Fish Guide are available online at Michigan.gov/EatSafeFish.

For more information on how to buy, eat or prepare safe fish, go to Michigan.gov/EatSafeFish or call the MDHHS Division of Environmental Health at 800-648-6942.