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Consumption Advisory for Pig Frog Legs for Everglades And Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area (Water Conservation Areas 2 and 3) in Palm Beach, Broward And Miami-Dade Counties

Press Release

May 14, 2008

Contact:

DOH Contact: Susan Smith (850) 245-4111   FWC Contact: Carli Segelson (727) 896-8626

CONSUMPTION ADVISORY FOR PIG FROG LEGS FOR EVERGLADES AND FRANCIS S. TAYLOR WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA (WATER CONSERVATION AREAS 2 AND 3) IN PALM BEACH, BROWARD AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTIES

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Health (DOH) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) jointly issued a consumption advisory today for pig frog legs taken from any part of the Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area.  This advisory covers all of Water Conservation Areas (WCAs) 2 and 3 due to elevated levels of mercury found in these frogs. 

This advisory provides information on quantities and time intervals for pig frog consumption.  DOH recommends that women of childbearing age and young children eat no more than two 8-ounce (raw weight) meals of frog-leg meat per week from WCA 2A and WCA 2B and no more than one 8-ounce meal of frog-leg meat per month from WCA 3A North and WCA 3A South.  DOH also recommends that women of childbearing age and young children eat no more than one 8-ounce meal of frog-leg meat per week from WCA 3B.

“The developing nervous system is more sensitive to the damage from mercury than the mature nervous system.  By limiting the mother’s exposure to mercury before and during pregnancy, we can prevent damage to the nervous system of her child,” Division of Environmental Health Director Lisa Conti, D.V.M., M.P.H., Dipl. ACVPM, said. 

The total mercury intake by the mother determines the risk level to her child for nervous system damage.  Since mercury may also be contained in some species of fish, anyone who consumes pig frogs covered by this advisory should only eat fish listed as low in mercury by the DOH’s Fish Consumption Advisory or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration until the consumption interval for pig frogs has passed.  Before deciding to consume pig frog legs rather than fish, the mother should consider the benefits from consuming fish that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids versus consuming frogs without that benefit.

Women who are not of childbearing age and all others should also limit their consumption of pig frogs from the Water Conservation Areas.  DOH recommends that individuals in this group should eat no more than two 8-ounce meals of frog leg meat per week from WCA 2 or 3.

Individuals harvesting frogs, including pig frogs, in Florida waters for personal use are not required to have a recreational license.  There are no bag or size limits for frogs and no season except in certain FWC WMAs.  In the Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMA, the harvesting of frogs is permitted year-round except during the general gun season when the harvesting of frogs is permitted only by airboat from one hour after sunset until one hour before sunrise. 

State and federal regulations prohibit harvesting of any frogs in the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (WCA 1) and the Everglades National Park.  Testing of pig frogs in these areas also found high levels of mercury.

A commercial fish dealer’s license is required to sell frogs or take frogs to sell.  Frogs may be taken in accordance with the provisions outlined in Florida Administrative Code 68A-26.002, including the use of gigs–provided that gigs are not specifically prohibited in the area.  Regulations for WMAs can be found at myfwc.com/hunting/wma/WMA_RegionMaps0708.htm.

This is the first consumption advisory for mercury issued in Florida for a species other than fish or shellfish.  Mercury is commonly concentrated in predators at the top of the food chain.  However, any animals that live or feed primarily in the aquatic environment have the potential to accumulate mercury.  If you consume these types of animals, you should be aware that you may have been exposed to mercury.  The only way to know if you have been exposed is to have your blood tested for mercury.  Your personal physician can order the test from most clinical laboratories.