A report released by Environmental Defence shows a high level of toxic chemicals polluting fish in the Great Lakes are not improving.

Up to the Gills: 2009 Update on Pollution in Great Lakes Fish analyzes fish advisories published by the Ontario Ministry of the environment for eight species of fish in 13 regions across the Great Lakes. It calls the trends in fish consumption “discouraging” and “unacceptable.”

“We need to get the information out there it’s safe to eat the fish, but in certain amounts,” said Mike Layton, program manager at Environmental Defence. “The problem is bad and we’ve got to stop polluting.”

The Great Lakes supply drinking water to 40 million people and are home to nearly 4,000 fish, plant and animal species.

The report indicates chemical contaminants including mercury, PCBs and pesticides have rendered many fish species at a “zero” consumption level. Exposure of these chemicals poses serious health risks including damages to the nervous system and risk of cancer.

The report, which looks at fish advisories from 2005-2009, indicates Lake Ontario has the highest level of contaminants. Forty per cent of the advisories were aimed at large fish of almost all species in the lake, deeming them unsafe to eat.

Lake Huron had the least significant advisory changes.

The eight recommendations in the report outline ways to increase public awareness and clean up the Great Lakes including a “Polluter Pays Principle” which would make polluters pay for environmental damages.

Layton believes the onus should not rest on taxpayers’ shoulders.

“The folks that did the polluting should have to clean it up,” he said. “It shouldn’t necessarily rest on everyone’s taxes.”

“We don’t want to discourage people from fishing or from eating the fish they catch in the Great Lakes, but we need to make sure they have the information to make informed decisions for their health.”