Two previously existing advisories are updated; four new waterbodies added to the list
AUGUSTA—The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) today issued updated and additional freshwater fish consumption advisories following ongoing PFAS testing of water bodies across the state by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (Maine DEP).
Two of the advisories are expansions or updates to those issued in previous years, while four bodies of water are new additions to the list that now total 25. These updated advisories, which recommend limiting consumption of all fish or certain fish from these six waterbodies, come after testing of fish in these locations found levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, above the Maine CDC’s recommended levels for regular consumption.
Elevated levels of the PFAS chemical called perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) were detected in fish tissue samples from Lovejoy Pond in Albion, Sebasticook River in Burnham and Benton, Collyer Brook in Gray, Androscoggin Lake in Leeds and Wayne, and Annabessacook Lake in Monmouth and Winthrop. Additionally, elevated levels of PFOS in the surface water of Messalonskee Stream in Waterville led to an extension of the existing advisory issued in 2022. The new fish consumption advisories apply to game fish caught in these waterbodies:
| Area | Waterbody | Consumption Advisory1 |
|---|---|---|
| Albion | All of Lovejoy Pond. | Consume no more than six fish meals per year of any fish species. |
| Burnham to Benton | Sebasticook River from the confluence with Twentyfive Mile Stream in Burnham to Benton Falls in Benton. | Consume no more than five meals per year of any fish species. |
| Gray | All of Collyer Brook. | Consume no more than one meal per month of brook trout. |
| Leeds and Wayne | All of Androscoggin Lake. | Consume no more than one meal per month of black crappie. |
| Monmouth and Winthrop | All of Annabessacook Lake. | Consume no more than ten meals per year of any fish species. |
| Oakland and Waterville | Messalonskee Stream from the Rice Rips Dam in Oakland to the Kennebec River in Waterville. | Consume no more than three fish meals per year of any fish species. |
1Meals defined as an 8-ounce serving.
*Bolded entries indicate extensions or updates to advisories issued in previous years.
“Fish are an excellent source of protein and nutrients, but our recent tests revealed elevated PFAS levels in certain waters,” said Maine CDC Director Dr. Puthiery Va. “This science-based advisory helps those who fish locally to make informed choices so they can continue enjoying fish safely.”
“Maine has over 32,000 miles of rivers and streams, and 6,000 lakes and ponds,” said Judy Camuso, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW). “This revised advisory list of 25 waters provides Maine’s 360,000 anglers information they can use if they choose to keep their catch and have a meal of freshwater fish.”
Fishing in these specific waterbodies remains a safe activity, in accordance with the consumption advisories, along with other recreational activities such as swimming, wading, and boating. The Maine CDC recommends that anglers review all existing fish consumption advisories for Maine waters.
In 2024, Maine DEP collected and tested fish from 43 sites across Maine, including the waterbodies subject to new or revised advisories. Maine DEP often prioritizes waterbodies for sampling based on known or potential PFAS contamination in groundwater, surface water, and/or soils. The Maine CDC determined that many of the sites that were tested in 2024 did not require fish consumption advisories. The Maine DEP continually consults with the Maine CDC and MDIFW to develop plans for additional sampling of fish as part of the State’s ongoing investigation of PFAS.
PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals found in a variety of consumer products throughout the world. Based on a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, exposure to certain PFAS chemicals has been associated with changes in liver and kidney function, changes in cholesterol levels, decreased immune response to vaccines in children, complications during pregnancy, increased risk of kidney cancer and possibly testicular cancer.
For more information about the fish consumption advisories and PFAS, please go to: