How to Select Fresh Fish and Shellfish

Consider these health and environmental issues before selecting your swimmers: The chart's "best choice" fish were caught or farmed in environmentally friendly ways. Mercury threat is also noted. According to the EPA, the typical U.S. consumer eating fish from restaurants and groceries is not in danger of consuming harmful levels of methylmercury from fish and is not advised to limit fish consumption.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Make a list of your preferred fish and shellfish, and research them.
2. Familiarize yourself with low-threat mercury fish and shellfish. This included U.S.-farmed catfish, clams, cod, crab, snapper, lobster, mahimahi and more. In fact, you can almost count on anything with a shell having a low threat of mercury.
3. Learn which fish typically have high-threat mercury levels. Shark (except West Coast thresher), swordfish and tuna can all be guilty. Note, this doesn't mean canned tuna. But albacore, yellowfin and bigeye tuna need a careful eye.

Tips & Warnings

• Because the developing fetus may be the most sensitive to the effects from methylmercury, women of child-bearing age are warned to avoid fish that may have high mercury levels.