Toxics & Nearshore Projects -
Bioaccumulate Toxics in Native American Shellfish Project
RECOMMENDATIONS for subsistence consumption*:
Women of child-bearing age (14 - 49 years old) may be able to eat two meals per week (one salmon and one clam or crab, preferably from yellow sites).
Children can also eat two meals a week (one salmon and one clam or crab only from yellow sites), assuming a smaller portion size.
Adult males and women past child-bearing age can add another meal per week, for example two salmon meals and one of either clam or crab from yellow or orange sites, or vice versa. Three seafood meals is the upper limit for everyone.
Preferably no tuna for anyone because it has high levels of mercury, which is extremely toxic.
For serving size, an average serving is considered to be an 8-ounce meal. Two 8-ounce meals per week are equal to one pound of seafood per week.
MAP KEY:
- There are no green sites (unlimited) anywhere
- Orange sites mean one meal per week (alone or in combination)
- Yellow sites mean two meals per week
- Red sites mean that it is recommended not to eat or harvest there
* These recommendations are based on calculations for people who live at Swinomish and harvest and/or eat shellfish from these locations for their entire lives. Their recommendations are not intended for use in commercial harvests.
The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community is federally recognized and operates under Constitution and Bylaws adopted in 1936 pursuant to the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934.
The Swinomish Tribe is committed to improving the lives and well being of the tribal members through social and cultural programs, education, economic development, and resource protection.
The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community is located on Fidalgo Island (gateway to the San Juan Islands) in Skagit County of Washington State about 70 miles north of Seattle. The Planning Office is located across the Swinomish Channel from the town of LaConner.