Common edible freshwater fish include catfish, freshwater trout, tilapia and freshwater perch. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advice also lists crawfish and pickerel among its “Best Choices.” These are examples, not a complete list, and a national mercury category does not guarantee that a fish from a particular lake or river is safe to eat.
Common edible freshwater fish
The FDA/EPA chart names the following freshwater choices. Its “Best Choices” label describes the advice’s mercury categories for people who might become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding people, and children ages 1–11; other adults can use it as a general guide too.
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| Fish or aquatic food | How to interpret the federal listing |
|---|---|
| Catfish | Named as a “Best Choice” in the FDA/EPA fish-consumption advice. |
| Freshwater trout | Named as a “Best Choice”; the listing refers to freshwater trout rather than every trout product or catch. |
| Tilapia | Named as a “Best Choice,” commonly encountered as a farmed or retail fish. |
| Freshwater perch | Named as a “Best Choice”; wild-caught perch still requires a local advisory check. |
| Crawfish | Included in the federal “Best Choices” list, although it is a crustacean rather than a fish. |
| Pickerel | Listed as a “Best Choice.” For a wild catch, identify the exact species and waterbody before eating it. |
The list is not an exhaustive culinary taxonomy. Many other freshwater species are eaten around the world, but their suitability depends on species, source and local contamination advice.
Can you eat a fish caught in a lake or river?
Sometimes, but you cannot answer that safely from the species name alone. For a fish caught by you, family or friends, consult the current advisory for the exact waterbody and jurisdiction. State, territorial and Tribal agencies publish local limits that can differ from federal buying guidance.
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Check these details before keeping a catch
- Identify the waterbody precisely. Use the lake, river reach, reservoir or tributary named by the advisory, not just the county or state.
- Confirm the species. Similar-looking fish can have different limits, and an advisory may apply only to a particular species or size.
- Read the meal-frequency and portion guidance. Follow limits on meals per week or month, serving size, fish size and the parts that may be eaten.
- Check the date and issuing authority. Use the latest state, territorial or Tribal notice; contamination advice can change.
- Follow any preparation instructions in the advisory. Do not assume trimming or cooking makes a restricted catch acceptable.
EPA says people who eat more than eight ounces of fish per week should pay particular attention to local advisories, including the species, frequency, amount and parts eaten. If you cannot find an advisory for a specific catch, contact the relevant health or natural-resources agency before eating it rather than treating the absence of information as proof of safety.
What “Best Choice” does—and does not—mean
The FDA/EPA chart is primarily a methylmercury guide. It helps people choose fish within federal advice, with special attention to pregnancy, breastfeeding and children ages 1–11. It does not certify every fish sold under a species name, every fishing location or every contaminant.
Purchased fish versus locally caught fish
- Purchased fish: Use the FDA/EPA consumer chart and the product’s source and labeling. Farmed tilapia, for example, is not the same exposure scenario as a wild fish from a contaminated waterbody.
- Locally caught fish: Give priority to the exact local advisory. A federal “Best Choice” designation cannot override a state, territorial or Tribal warning.
Why mercury matters
Nearly all fish contain at least traces of methylmercury. Mercury is distributed throughout a fish’s tissue, so cleaning or cooking will not reduce the amount of mercury, according to the FDA/EPA FAQ. Larger, predatory and longer-lived fish generally accumulate more because they eat other fish and have more time to build up contaminants.
That is why safe-choice guidance is based on both species and eating pattern. Follow the stricter local rule when a caught fish is covered by an advisory, and pay particular attention if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, feeding a child ages 1–11 or routinely eat more than eight ounces of fish per week.
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For routine shopping
Catfish, freshwater trout, tilapia and freshwater perch are familiar starting points from the federal “Best Choices” list. Check the package or fish-counter label for the species and source, then use the FDA advice at Advice about Eating Fish to plan variety and frequency.
For fishing trips
Save the local advisory page before you go and recheck it when conditions or notices change. Keep the waterbody name, species, size and date of capture with your catch so you can match it to the correct guidance. If an advisory says “do not eat,” discard the fish rather than trying to make it safe through cooking.
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Official guidance to consult
- FDA: Advice about Eating Fish — federal species choices and audience scope.
- FDA: Questions & Answers from the FDA/EPA Advice about Eating Fish — local-catch direction and mercury information.
- EPA: Should I Be Concerned about Eating Fish and Shellfish? — guidance for people who eat fish frequently and links to advisory concepts.
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