Imported basa, swai, and striped catfish may carry harmful bacteria, while imported farmed shrimp often contains banned pesticides and antibiotics. Imported king crab is often mislabeled and may come from unsustainable fisheries.
Other high-mercury or overfished species include orange roughy, shark, Atlantic bluefin tuna, swordfish, king mackerel, and grouper. Some, like grouper, are also frequent victims of seafood fraud.
While selenium in certain fish can offset mercury absorption, it’s not a license to eat high-mercury species regularly. Sharks, for example, have high mercury and low selenium — a risky mix.
Safer, sustainable alternatives include wild-caught Alaskan salmon, Pacific sardines, Atlantic mackerel, U.S./Canada-caught albacore tuna, Alaska cod, Arctic char, and rainbow trout. The EDF Seafood Selector offers guidance for healthier, eco-friendly choices.
