There are countless fish in the ocean, but a few of them should be avoided at all costs. This isn’t due to their ferocity, since they are relatively easy to catch. What’s puzzling about these fish is the fact that they appear normal. They don’t sport spines or razor sharp fins. To the untrained eye these species are completely normal. What makes them extremely dangerous is the shocking amounts of contaminants in their bodies. From mercury to PCB’s, these fish are packed with enough poison to ruin the healthiest meal.
Even though they are delicious, fish are exposed to some of the vilest chemicals on earth. Every year countless tons of plastic & oil are dumped into the ocean. These wreak havoc on marine life, & everything gets a taste of the destruction. The legacy of this contamination lives on through the tainted products that we consume.
All fish are exposed to some amount of contamination, but not all of them are dangerous to consume. This is good news to anyone with a developed palate, since there’s still plenty of fish to eat. While the best fish to eat fluctuate every year, the fishes to avoid remain consistent. Knowing this allows anglers & civilians alike to pick the best option for their families. For this reason, we have compiled a list of fishes to avoid at all costs. Your family will thank you, since there are plenty of healthier options available!
3 Fishes to Avoid Eating
Fish #3: Imported Catfish – Nothing is more delicious than a fresh caught catfish, but buying it from the store comes with hidden consequences. Almost 90% of the catfish imported to the U.S. come from Vietnam, which opens doors to a slew of problems. The most alarming factor is the rampant use of rogue antibiotics in Vietnam. These antibiotics have been banned in the U.S. for causing health problems. Unfortunately, that doesn’t stop them from being widely used in South East Asia.
To make matters worse, Vietnamese catfish fall into a loophole. The two main types of Vietnamese catfish are Swai & Basa. Both technically aren’t considered catfish by the federal government, so they aren’t inspected as much as other imported catfish. This loose regulation & exposure to illegal anti-biotics makes imported catfish a terrible choice for health-conscious consumers.
Fish #2: Orange Roughy – This late blooming fish has multiple factors that makes it undesirable to eat. They take between 20 to 40 years to reach full maturity, so they get exposed to shocking levels of contaminants. The most worrying element is mercury, which is outrageously prevalent in any Orange Roughy.
On top of accumulating a staggering amount of chemicals in their lifetime, these fish are overharvested. They meekly reproduce at the end of their lifecycle, which makes it hard for them to recover from overfishing. Due to their scarcity, many major restaurant chains refuse to serve them. They still end up at some markets, so remember to avoid this contaminated species!
Fish #1: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna – Its gorgeous red meat may be a staple at Japanese restaurants, but Atlantic Bluefin Tuna packs a hidden punch. Out of all the types of tuna, this species has the highest levels of mercury in the group. This shocking discovery was recently highlighted by the New York Times, which was a sobering reminder to sushi lovers.
This species isn’t just tainted, it’s also being harvested in a destructive manner. Bluefin tuna are notoriously overharvested, which has put it dangerously close to extinction. They are classified as “critically endangered”, which is yet another reason to give up this mercury infested fish. Do yourself a favor & switch to domestic albacore