Photo: John Sekutowski on Unsplash.com

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - March 25, 2026

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has released updated fish consumption guidelines this week, specifically for Northeast Minnesota, including Cook, Lake, and St. Louis counties. The updates address specific mercury levels found in certain fish species within these three counties.

According to the MDH, recommendations for NE Minnesota typically follow statewide advice, however, five species were found to have higher average mercury levels in various waterbodies across the area. The department notes that these guidelines are intended to provide community members and visitors with information about fish from most local waterbodies, including those that have not undergone specific contaminant testing.

When it comes to providing guidance, the MDH splits recommendations based on "sensitive populations," defined as children under the age of 15, people who are pregnant or may become pregnant, and those who are currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, and "general populations," defined as men and boys ages 15 and older, as well as people who do not plan to become pregnant.

The MDH clarifies that these consumption categories are based on data from fish fillets. "If you eat other parts of the fish, your exposure may differ," it said.

For sensitive populations, the updated guidelines are:

• One Serving per Week (select one species from the weekly category and not exceed the total servings for that tier): Includes species such as bullhead, inland trout (brook, brown, and rainbow), lake herring (cisco), lake whitefish, and sunfish. Yellow perch has also been added as a new category to this tier.

• One Serving per Month: Includes bass, catfish, northern pike measuring shorter than 26 inches, and walleye measuring shorter than 18 inches.

• Avoid (Do Not Eat): Includes muskellunge, northern pike 26 inches or longer, and walleye 18 inches or longer.

• Four Servings per Week: Bullhead, inland trout, lake herring, and lake whitefish.

• Two Servings per Week: Crappie and sunfish (new for this tier).

• One Serving per Week: Bass, catfish, lake trout, northern pike, walleye, and yellow perch (new).

• One Serving per Month: Muskellunge.

For the general population, the MDH suggests selecting one weekly category and staying within the total servings (4, 2, or 1) for that specific tier. For example, a person could consume two servings of bullhead and two servings of lake whitefish in one week without exceeding the "four servings" limit.

For those who consume fish from restaurants or grocery stores, the MDH recommends choosing low-mercury options. Learn more from the MDH website here.