Other Monitoring Programs & Studies (e.g., Fish Tissue, Microplastics, Metals)
DRBC Fish Tissue Sampling

Since 1990, DRBC has periodically sampled tissues of resident fish species in the non-tidal and tidal portions of the main stem Delaware River. 

In the non-tidal portion, samples of smallmouth bass and white sucker are collected at four locations:

  • Narrowsburg, N.Y. (river mile [RM] 290)

  • Milford, Pa. (RM 246)

  • Easton, Pa. (RM 183)

  • Lambertville, NJ (RM 149)

In the tidal portion of the river, samples of channel catfish and white perch are collected at five locations:

  • Crosswicks Creek (RM 128)

  • Tacony-Palmyra Bridge (RM 107)

  • Woodbury Creek (RM 91)

  • Raccoon Creek (RM 80)

  • Salem River (RM 58)

The samples are analyzed for PCBs, chlorinated pesticides, dioxins/furans, flame retardants, perfluorinated chemicals, mercury, and other metals. 

These data are used to track the progress of the PCB TMDLs that were established by the U.S. EPA in 2003 and to identify chemical compounds that may pose a risk to human health through fish consumption. 

These data are also forwarded to state agencies for their use in establishing fish consumption advisories for fish caught in the Delaware River.
Related Resources
Archives: Fish Tissue Data

Listed below are links to chemical contaminant data for fish and shellfish samples collected from the Delaware Estuary by a variety of organizations. The compilation focuses primarily on samples collected from the tidal waters between Trenton, N.J. and the mouth of the Delaware Bay; however, data are also presented for many non-tidal waters that drain to the tidal Delaware Estuary.

The data are presented in Microsoft Excel files and can be downloaded. A Microsoft Word Read me file describes how the data are presented


DNREC Fish Tissue Data

 

 

 

 

 

DRBC Fish Tissue Data

1988 DRBC Report FY '94 Fish Tissue DRBC EPA MAIA 1998
FY '91 Fish Tissue FY '96 Fish Tissue DRBC EPA Coastal 2000
FY '92 Fish Tissue FY '98 Fish Tissue DRBC 2004-2007 and 2010
FY '93 Fish Tissue FY '00 - 01 Fish Tissue  

 

 

 

 

 

 EPA Fish Tissue Data

'66-'72 Bivalve '77 Bivalve '92 Dover Power Plant
'69 Fish Tissue '86 Red Lion Creek '92 Nat'l Bioacc Report
'72-'76 Fish Tissue '91 EMAP '98 MAIA Fish Tissue
'76 Red Clay Creek '91 Fish Tissue  

 

 

 

 


FDA Fish Tissue Data


Metal Bank Fish Tissue Data 

1987 Fish Data 1991 Corbicula Data 1993 Fish Data

  

 

NJDEP Fish Tissue Data

'75-80 Survey '86-87 Survey '99 Survey
'85 Dioxin Survey '88-91 Survey  

 

 

 

PADEP Fish Tissue Data

University of Delaware Fish Tissue Data

USFWS Fish Tissue Data

'66-'88 Nat'l Pesticide '89 Presidente Rivera Report '92 Fish Tissue
'86-'87 St. Jones River '91 Fish Contam. Report '92 Horseshoe Crab

 

 

 

USGS Fish Tissue Data