KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – Consumers are being asked to be careful when purchasing river fishes after officials said that poisonous chemicals were being used to catch them.

The Forestry Department said that a popular weedicide used in the agriculture sector, and which is poisonous to humans and domestic animals, is being used to catch crayfish.

It said that those using the poison do not themselves eat the fishes, but instead sell them to consumers, hotels and restaurants who use the fishes as part of a national delicacy.

One Forestry Officer, Fitzroy Springer, said the poison fish and water may also affect farmers in the mountainous areas who drink water directly from the rivers.

But health officials said they have had no recent complaints of persons suffering from poison as a result of the illegal practice.