Fishing the Duwamish River
The University of Washington Superfund Research Program has partnered with agencies and community groups focused on the cleanup for over a decade. Most recently, the program has been assisting in efforts to educate local communities about the safety of eating fish from the river.
“The focus of our program is to help reach communities that continue to fish the river,” said Tom Burbacher, the director of community engagement for the UW program and a professor of environmental and occupational health sciences. “As part of this effort we encourage people fishing in the Duwamish to eat only the salmon, within recommended amounts, and not the resident fish taken from the waterway.”
Produced in partnership with the Duwamish Community Health Advocates, Public Health–Seattle & King County, the US Environmental Protection Agency Region 10, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Special thanks to community partners and reviewers: Just Health Action, Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition/TAG, ECOSS, and Juntos Podemos Cuidar Nuestro Rio Duwamish.
COVID-19 update: Fishing on the Duwamish River is currently allowed under the state’s gradual approach to reopening businesses and modifying physical distancing measures.
How many meals are safe to eat?
Salmon is the safest seafood to eat from the Duwamish River.
In the Duwamish River, the seafood that spends its entire life in the river (perch, sole, flounder, crab, mussels, and clams) is unsafe to eat. They have high levels of toxic chemicals (such as PCBs) that you cannot see. Learn more here.