(Little Rock) – The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC), and the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (E&E), Division of Environmental Quality are issuing a temporary catch-and-release fish advisory for Holmes Creek downstream from the release site north of the intersection of Gas Plant Road and All Gulf Road to downstream of Smackover Creek below the Welsco Bridge.

This precautionary advisory comes after an oil pipeline release and as clean-up of the impacted area concludes. It does not apply to areas upstream from the release site or downstream from the confluence with Smackover Creek. Fish caught in these areas are still considered safe for consumption.

Contaminants from the oil spill might include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs are common environmental contaminants and are suspected to be carcinogenic. The presence of PAHs could pose a risk because PAHs can accumulate over time in fish. For these reasons, ADH, AGFC, and E&E recommend this temporary catch-and-release fish advisory as a precautionary measure. This advisory will be lifted once the clean-up of the oil spill is completed and more sampling is conducted.

Fish are an important, low-fat source of protein. Knowing and following the fish consumption advisories allows you to safely keep fish an important part of your diet. ADH’s Fish Advisories program identifies and quantifies exposures to environmental contaminants, conducts risk assessments and communications, provides surveillance for adverse health effects, and provides health- based guidance on levels of exposure to such contaminants. For more information, please visit https://healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/public-health-safety/fish-advisories/