Sherry Chandler » Noodling in Polluted Streams
Noodling in Polluted Streams
Charlie Hughes writes in response to our conversation about noodling, and what he has to say is important enough that I want to make it my major post of the day:
Noodling for catfish may be increasing in popularity in this country. However, I recently have had second thoughts about catching either fish or turtles from Kentucky streams, by any method. Many states including Kentucky, have on-going advisories against the eating of all freshwater fish caught in those states. The Kentucky Division of Water advisory, currently in effect, states the following:
“A statewide fish consumption advisory was issued on April 11, 2000, because of low levels of organic mercury found in samples of fish from Kentucky waters. Women of childbearing age and children 6 years and younger are advised to eat no more than one meal per week of freshwater fish from Kentucky rivers, streams and lakes because of the presence of mercury.”
I’d say that a concentration of mercury that’s dangerous would be a “high” rather than a “low” level — but let’s not argue semantics with something so dangerous. Among the well-documented toxic effects of mercury in humans are severe birth defects and mental abberations.
According to the EPA, “The largest human-generated source of mercury emissions in the United States is the burning of coal…”
97% of Kentucky’s electricity, and 50% of U.S. electricity, is produced from coal-burning power plants. And there are plans, promoted by our government, for construction of many more such polluters in Kentucky and across the nation.
When we humans have befouled the air and water sufficiently the earth will be unfit for human habitation. Loss of a sustaining environment is the primary reason that species become extinct. It may thunder one day and neither turtles nor humans will hear it. ¹
References:
http://www.water.ky.gov/sw/advisories/fish.htm
http://www.epa.gov/envirohealth/children/emerging_issues/fish.htm
¹ Referring to the folk belief that, if a snapping turtle bites, it won’t let go until it thunders.
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