TORONTO - The new 2003/2004 Guide to Eating Ontario Sport Fish is now available.

The Guide is on the Ministry of the Environment's Web site at - www.ene.gov.on.ca - or by calling toll-free 1-800-565-4923, or in Toronto (416) 325-4000. The Guide will also be available across the province beginning this week at all Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Natural Resources offices, Ontario Travel and Tourism offices, and for a limited time at select bait and tackle shops, tourist outfitters and LCBO and Beer Store outlets.

"The Guide contains advice for eating sport fish caught in Ontario," Minister of the Environment Chris Stockwell said. "New data in the Guide shows substances such as DDT, PCBs, mirex, toxaphene and chlordane continue to decline at locations that were pollution hot spots in the 1970s."

Other highlights include decreases in levels of mercury in walleye from locations in Lake Ontario, Lake Huron and Lake Superior. As well, photomirex continues to fall in Credit River chinook salmon, Ganaraska River rainbow trout and brown trout from northeastern Lake Ontario.

"While we continue to make progress in cleaning up our waters, anglers and their families should still follow the guideís advice to ensure safe consumption of sport fish," Stockwell said. "Be sure to pay attention to the size and species of fish you eat, how often you eat fish and where you catch your fish."

More information on the Guide or on the Ministry of the Environment's Sport Fish Contaminant Monitoring Program is available by e-mailing sportfish@ene.gov.on.ca or by calling toll-free 1-800-820-2716, or in Toronto (416) 327-6816.

Contact:

John Steele
Communications Branch
(416) 314-6666

Heather Capannelli
Minister's Office
(416) 314-6736