LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has released the 2026 Eat Safe Fish Guides that provide consumption guidelines for eating locally caught fish. Guidelines are based on levels of chemicals found in the portions of fish people eat, typically the filets. Test results from the MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories are used to determine what can be safe for people to eat over the long term.
In total, the guides provide consumption guidelines for 696 Michigan waterbodies.
MDHHS Eat Safe Fish Guides are not laws or regulations. They provide free guidance to help people choose fish that are safe to eat and less likely to affect their health due to harmful chemicals.
MDHHS also produces the Buy Safe Fish Guide to help residents choose seafood lower in mercury from local grocery stores, fish markets and restaurants. The Eat Safe Fish Guides and Buy Safe Fish Guide are available at Michigan.gov/EatSafeFish.
