The quality of fish in the Saguenay Fjord is exceptional. Smelt, redfish, and small cod (less than 50 cm or 20 inches) can be consumed safely. For cod and other large marine species, it is recommended not to exceed one meal per week if you consume them regularly.
Centre intégré universitaire de santé
et de services sociaux du Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean
et de services sociaux du Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean
Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean
Fish consumption
Enjoy the health benefits by wisely consuming your catches.
Fish is an excellent food for humans, rich in vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, and zinc: nutrients essential for health. It is recommended to include it in your diet every week. To benefit from its nutritional value, the Integrated University Health and Social Services Center of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean invites fishermen and their guests who regularly consume fish to be aware of general recommendations regarding the most prized game species.
Your catches in the Saguenay Fjord
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Your catches in freshwater bodies
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Good water quality in a lake or river ensures the good quality of the fish living in it. For piscivorous fish, which feed on other fish, they naturally accumulate more mercury in their flesh than insectivorous fish over their lifetime. To consume these fish safely, simply adjust your annual intake according to the species and size, as indicated in the table. For pregnant women and young children, who are more sensitive to mercury, insectivorous fish and some smaller piscivorous fish (in green in the table) pose no danger.
To view the general recommendations table for fish caught in freshwater, click here.
Special cases
To know the specific recommendations for a fishing site or in a recently flooded hydroelectric reservoir, fishermen can consult the following links :