Ban on Sale of White Croakers Urged

Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica), Heal the Bay and several organizations from the Asian community have teamed up in an effort to ban the sale of white croakers that are brought to shore in Los Angeles and Orange counties. The groups also are calling for warnings that would inform consumers that white croakers may be contaminated.

Hayden is sponsoring a bill that is making its way through the Legislature that would prohibit the sale of croakers caught off Los Angeles or Orange counties. There is already a ban on fishing for croakers by commercial fishermen off the coast of the two counties, said Lisa Hoyos, policy analyst for Hayden.

Studies conducted by state environmental agencies have found that croakers--which are a bottom-feeding fish--have a higher rate of carcinogens, DDT and PCB particularly, than other fish. Contamination is produced by the sewage from the Hyperion sewage treatment plant, Chevron’s refinery outfall, storm drain runoff and other sources.

One study conducted by the state Office of Environmental and Health Hazard Assessment tested 16 different types of fish, Hoyos said. White croakers were the only fish that received an “avoid consumption” recommendation, Hoyos said.

“The concern is that croaker fish will cause cancer,” Hoyos said.

The problem with croakers is not a new one, Hayden says. He has been trying to get the state to issue warnings about sale of croakers since a state-funded study in the late 1970s showed that the fish are contaminated.

“I feel that the study has been ignored,” Hayden said. “Poison croaker is still for sale, particularly for poor people.”

Croakers, Hayden explained, are an inexpensive fish that has gained popularity in poor communities. The Asian community also uses croaker fish as a base for soups and other dishes, said Hoyos.

Hayden blames state regulatory agencies for not prohibiting the sale of croakers.

“Basically I think the Department of Fish and Game and other regulatory agencies have retreated from their responsibility,” he said. “If the government won’t protect people, environmentalists have to.”

In addition to prohibiting the sale of some white croakers, Hayden’s bill would require that multilingual signs be posted on party boats and public piers and docks warning of the health risks associated with the fish. The signs would be posted in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Francisco counties and other coastal areas.