Dietary precautions for people catching fish in the Shoalhaven River has now been extended to include the tidal extent of the river.
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The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) strengthened its advice at the latest Department of Defence community walk in session about the PFAS Investigation and Management Program at HMAS Albatross in Nowra.
Back in November when the precautionary dietary advice was issued and even at Thursday afternoon’s sessions, documentation simply said the advice was for the Shoalhaven River, upstream and downstream of the Nowra bridge
But a total length was not provided.
EPA now says the precautionary advice stretches for the tidal extent of the river.
In other words, as far as the salt water reaches up river, which EPA says is around Meadow Creek, as far west as Burrier.
The precautionary advice stretches all the way to the river opening.
In November last year the EPA issued a precautionary dietary advice for five fish species caught in the Shoalhaven River, luderick (blackfish), sea mullet, sand whiting, dusky flathead and silverbiddy, after testing found elevated PFAS levels.
Recommended maximum weekly intake for species caught in areas upstream of the Nowra Bridge:
- For children aged two to six years it is suggested they can have five serves of sand whiting, three serves of luderick or sea mullet, two serves of dusky flathead and a single serve of silver biddy per week.
- For other age groups it is recommended six serves of ludrick, five of sea mullet, four of dusky flathead, three of silverbiddy per week, while there is no recommended intake of sand whiting.
The recommended maximum weekly intake for species caught in areas downstream of the Nowra Bridge.
- For children aged two to six it is recommended six serves of sea mullet, five of silver biddy and three of dusky flathead.
- For other age groups there is no dietary advice required based on the reported PFOS and PFHxS concentrations. Concentrations were below the adopted trigger values in the samples analysed.
- Adult serving size is 150 grams and children serving size is 75 grams.
- Species specific information was for when a single species of fish is eaten per week. Eating multiple species would result in a greater exposure.
EPA has also issued advice on Currambene Creek:
- The EPA has released tables which lists the number of serves of a single species that can be eaten each week to limit exposure to half of the health-based guideline value.
- For children aged two to six years it is suggested they can have six serves of eastern garfish, one serve of estuary perch, four serves of luderick (blackfish), one serve of mulloway (Jewfish), four serves of sea mullet and one serve of silver trevally per week.
- For other age groups it is recommended two serves of estuary perch, mulloway and silver trevally, while there is no recommended intake of eastern garfish, luderick and sea mullet.
- Adult serving size is 150 grams and children serving size is 75 grams.
Shoalhaven water supply safe
The EPA said the Shoalhaven water supply remained safe despite PFAS showing up in fish caught in the river.
An EPA spokesperson said testing around Shoalhaven Water draw off sites, including the storage at Bamarang Dam, was Shoalhaven City Council’s responsibility.
“Bamarang dam is located upstream from these water sources, upstream waters should not be impacted by PFAS detected at HMAS Albatross,” the spokesperson said.
“PFAS from the HMAS Albatross had entered the Shoalhaven River from the Calymea Creek and Cabbage Tree Creek.
“The Department of Defence is developing a strategy for the ongoing management of the site. The EPA is working with the Commonwealth to contain and remediate PFAS contamination where it is clear it is the polluter.
“In relation to all cases of PFAS contamination, as is the case with any other site contamination, the EPA is committed to the “polluter pays” principle.”
Robert Crawford
Robert Crawford is a senior journalist at the South Coast Register, for Australian Community Media . Everyone's got a story, what's yours? Email robert.crawford@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Robert Crawford is a senior journalist at the South Coast Register, for Australian Community Media . Everyone's got a story, what's yours? Email robert.crawford@austcommunitymedia.com.au
