US EditionTribes Issue Fish Consumption Advisory for Clark Fork, Blackfoot and Bitterroot
- On June 26, 2025, tribal authorities issued a warning advising against consuming fish caught in the lower stretches of the Clark Fork, Bitterroot, and Blackfoot Rivers due to harmful levels of chemical pollutants.
- The advisory was issued after testing revealed harmful concentrations of PCBs, dioxins, and furans accumulating in fish tissue, which can lead to health concerns—especially for vulnerable tribal groups such as pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children.
- The advisory applies to all fish species and sizes in the designated sections of the lower Clark Fork River and specifically warns against eating certain fish, including rainbow trout and northern pike caught in select tributaries, with the restrictions remaining effective indefinitely.
- CSKT Council Vice-Chairman Tom McDonald highlighted that this advisory is based on scientific findings and the Tribe’s duty to safeguard the health and welfare of its members, encouraging everyone to stay updated and make informed, safe decisions.
- The advisory implies limits on off-Reservation fishing rights and will be supported with maps and educational materials available on the CSKT website to aid tribal members.
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Local tribes issue fish warning due to PCB levels in Clark Fork
PABLO, Mont. – The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have issued a fish consumption advisory for all species and sizes of fish from the lower Clark Fork River, ranging from
Helena Independent Record
Tribes issue fish consumption advisory for Clark Fork, Blackfoot and Bitterroot
On long stretches of the Clark Fork, Bitterroot and Blackfoot rivers, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have a simple message for pike and rainbow trout anglers: Don’t eat the fish.
CSKT issues a fish consumption warning for three rivers
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have issued an indefinite fishing warning for tribal anglers about eating fish on or near the reservation in certain rivers.The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are advising all tribal members to avoid consuming all species and sizes of fish harvested from the lower Clark Fork River from the Bitterroot River near Missoula to the Flathead River near Paradise. Recent testing has confirmed the pres…
CSKT issues advisory not to eat fish from sections of Clark Fork, Bitterroot rivers
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are advising all Tribal members to avoid eating fish that were caught in the lower Clark Fork River from the Bitterroot River near Missoula to the Flathead River near Paradise.CSKT reports recent testing confirmed the presence of Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, and furans in fish at levels "that are unsafe for consumption by Tribal peoples," according to a news release.People are also being …
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