Fish Testing

News and Information

Town of Kiawah Island
21 Beachwalker Drive
Kiawah Island, SC 29455
(843) 768-9166

FISH TISSUE TESTING

Since 2003, the Town of Kiawah Island, in conjunction with the KICA Lakes Department, has been testing fish from island waters to monitor contaminant levels in fish tissues. Fish are caught using hook and line and samples are processed following SCDHEC guidelines. Samples are tested for 4 heavy metals (mercury, arsenic, cadmium, lead) as well as 20 common pesticides. Efforts are concentrated in the most commonly fished ponds on the island: Beachwalker, Bass, Egret, Pintail, Canvasback, Willet, and the Tennis Club area. In 2007, testing was initiated in the lagoon area on the eastern end of the beach. Testing results indicate that fish are safe to eat on Kiawah Island and there are no current advisories concerning consumption.

Sampling was conducted between June 21-24. 10 fish were collected from 4 different island ponds and the east end lagoon area. Hot weather made it difficult to collect a large number of fish, so additional testing is planned for September-October 2010.

Wildlife sightings by Town Biologists

NEW Wildlife Video Gallery

NEW Answers to frequently asked questions about wildlife on Kiawah

View bobcat GPS locations in Google Earth

View wildlife sightings by residents and visitors in Google Earth

View Kiawah bird checklist

Wildlife sightings page provided by the Kiawah Island Golf Resort

Report an interesting or unusual wildlife sighting to Town Biologists

Submit Kiawah fishing reports and photos

Statewide Fish Consumption Advisory Information from SCDHEC

RESULTS

2010

2009

Sampling was conducted during May-June. 29 fish were tested from 7 different island ponds and the east end lagoon area. Detailed information on each fish tested can be found in the table below.

Important note regarding ocean fish consumption

EPA and FDA advise women who are or may become pregnant, nursing mothers, and children under 14 not to eat ANY king mackerel, shark, swordfish, or tilefish.

SCDHEC Atlantic Ocean Fish Consumption Advisories

Date	Pond	Species	Length (inches)	Weight (lbs.oz)
6/21/2010	East End	Flounder	17.00	1.13
6/22/2010	Canvasback	Red Drum	15.00	1.09
6/22/2010	Beachwalker	Spotted Sea Trout	15.00	1.03
6/22/2010	Beachwalker	Red Drum	17.00	1.12
6/23/2010	Egret	Red Drum	15.50	1.05
6/24/2010	East End	Flounder	21.50	3.11
6/24/2010	East End	Flounder	19.50	2.14
6/24/2010	East End	Red Drum	19.00	2.08
6/24/2010	Canvasback	Spotted Sea Trout	17.00	1.06
6/24/2010	Tennis Club	Largemouth Bass	18.00	3.02

Fish from Kiawah Island ponds are safe to eat and there are no current advisories concerning consumption

Date	Pond	Species	Length (inches)	Weight (lbs.oz)
5/19/2009	Willet	Spotted sea trout	19	2.15
5/19/2009	Willet	Spotted sea trout	20	3.06
5/19/2009	Egret	Red drum	22	3.04
5/20/2009	Willet	Flounder	16.5	2.01
5/20/2009	Willet	Flounder	16.25	2
5/20/2009	Willet	Flounder	16	2.02
5/20/2009	Bass	Red drum	20.75	3.07
5/20/2009	Bass	Flounder	17.5	2
5/20/2009	Bass	Flounder	17	1.14
5/21/2009	Egret	Flounder	15.75	1.08
5/21/2009	Beachwalker	Flounder	18	2.09
5/21/2009	Egret	Flounder	17	2
5/21/2009	Egret	Flounder	16	1.12
5/21/2009	Canvasback	Spotted sea trout	19	2.06
5/21/2009	Canvasback	Spotted sea trout	19	2.04
6/17/2009	Beachwalker	Flounder	21	3.13
6/17/2009	Beachwalker	Red drum	17.5	2
6/17/2009	Beachwalker	Spotted sea trout	18.5	1.15
6/18/2009	East End	Red drum	17	1.11
6/19/2009	Canvasback	Spotted sea trout	19.5	1.15
6/19/2009	East End	Flounder	18.5	2.07
6/19/2009	East End	Flounder	18.25	2.02
6/19/2009	East End	Flounder	15	1.04
6/23/2009	Tennis Club	Largemouth Bass	12.5	1.01
6/23/2009	Tennis Club	Largemouth Bass	14.5	1.07
6/23/2009	Tennis Club	Largemouth Bass	14.25	1.05
6/24/2009	Pintail	Red drum	20.5	3.04
6/24/2009	Canvasback	Red drum	17	1.11
6/24/2009	Pintail	Black Drum	15	1.13

News and Information

WILDLIFE ON KIAWAH ISLAND