3 Reasons to Avoid Eating Fish from Santa Monica Bay
Pelagic ProblemsSanta Monica Bay is a popular coastal spot, but what lurks beneath the surface may surprise you. From toxic chemical accumulation to dangerous algal blooms and outdated fishing advisories, there are serious concerns about eating local fish caught in this area. In this post, we’ll explore three key reasons why you might want to think twice before putting that fillet on your plate.
Back in the late 1940s to early 1950s, the Montrose Chemical Plant was mass producing insecticides, and thus was also producing large amounts of chemical waste. This plant was dumping around 1,500 tons of waste in the Palos Verdes coastal shelf for over the next 20 years (epa.gov).
Insecticides like DDT, (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane), were widely used back then to repel pests from vegetation, and was also thought to have an affect on insect-borne human diseases (epa.gov). The accumulation of waste dumped was so large that it traveled upward to the Santa Monica Bay.
When ingested, DDT lives in the fatty tissues of these species. It gradually accumulates as it moves up the food chain.
Humans can get serious illnesses from eating DDT contaminated fish, and it is advised to catch and release on the pier. However, if you do decide to eat from these piers, be sure to ONLY eat the fillet muscle, NOT THE HEAD, SKIN OR FATTY ORGANS!
Stay safe and happy fishing!