Less Hazelwood barra on fishers' plates

The barramundi in the Hazelwood cooling pond aren't as safe to eat as first thought, following Food Standards Australia's new advice about PFAS chemicals.

Children eating barramundi from a Victorian power station's pondage have been told to cut their consumption by up to 83 per cent.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand recently revised health guidelines for per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of manufactured chemicals found in the fish in Hazelwood's pondage.

PFAS is also used in the manufacture of some non-stick cookware and in some types of firefighting foam.

While previously told eating Hazelwood barramundi two to three times a week was fine, children are now advised not to consume more than one serving of 75 grams a fortnight.

Adults have ben told to cut their consumption from three to one time a week, at 150g a serve.

Environment Protection Authority Victoria says there is no consistent evidence PFAS are harmful to human health.

"While the revised health-based guideline values has resulted in a change to fish consumption advice, it does not change our understanding of the health effects of PFAS," the EPA said in a statement.

"There is no reason to expect that consumption of barramundi from Hazelwood Pondage would lead to any specific illness or adverse health effects."

Native to the warm waters of Australia's far north, 1600 barramundi were put into the cooling pond in April last year at a cost of $150,000.

The fishery opened in December.

Stormwater and treated waste water from the mine and power station supply the pond, which was kept at a minimum 22C all year before the plant shut down last week.

Fisheries Victoria is looking into the feasibility of using geothermal water to sustain the barramundi fishery and what social and economic impact the fishery has had on the region.