59% of fish in Bay are over EPA mercury levels

The recent reports on the Chesapeake Bay have not been very encouraging at all. Pollution levels are still very high, fish with various diseases, above average rates of esophagus cancer in the region and now this. Already people were cautious about eating the local fish because of a skin disorder that could be transmitted to humans but with the mercury levels well above the EPA guidelines, people need to be even more cautious.

Naturally the energy industry is giving reasons why the new laws against coal burning are not possible for other areas, they somehow forget the big picture problem of health costs as well as lost revenue and tax income from fishing if people are not eating the local product. The Bay is heavily impacted by neighboring states that have poor environmental laws and with a disinterested EPA in Washington, it is left up to the states to put together a plan that helps the region in the long run. I wish I could be more optimistic about fixing the problems but I do not see those neighbors taking any action in the near term.