Fish may be ananti-aging superfood, but eating the wrong kinds of fish can raise the level of mercury in your body. This is especially dangerous for pregnant and breastfeeding women. That said, there's no reason to avoid fish entirely—instead, learn about the mercury levels in fish, the best types to eat, and how much is considered safe.
Risks of Mercury
All fish contain trace amounts of mercury. For most people, the small amount of mercury in fish does not pose a health problem. Some fish, however, contain high amounts of mercury—enough to cause damage to a developing fetus or newborn. That's why pregnant and nursing mothers must be very careful about the amounts and types of fish they eat. Young children should also avoid eating fish high in mercury.
There are three types of mercury: organic, inorganic, and elemental (metallic). Methylmercury is an organic form of mercury that is highly toxic to humans. It's a metal that turns to liquid at room temperature, and over time, can slowly accumulate in the bodies of humans, fish, and other animals that eat fish. Those with industrial occupations such as coal miners may also be subjected to methylmercury exposure and poisoning.
Methylmercury is toxic to the central nervous system—the brain and spinal cord. It causes irreversible damage. The brains of unborn babies and infants are especially susceptible. How much damage is done depends on how much you are exposed to the chemical.
The effects of methylmercury poisoning include cerebral palsy, blindness, deafness, impaired mental functioning, impaired lung function, growth problems, and having a small head.
Mercury levels can gradually build up in adults, too—eventually becoming harmful to health. High mercury levels can cause permanent damage to the kidneys and brain. Mercury is naturally eliminated from your body, but it can take several months for it to pass through. For that reason, women who are planning to become pregnant may want to begin to avoid fish that are higher in mercury before they become pregnant.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, pregnant women and small children (under age 6) should not eat more than two servings of fish each week—and should only eat the types of fish with low mercury content.
Mercury Levels in Fish
The mercury found in fish is methylmercury—but how does it get there? First, mercury is released into the air from environmental events such as volcanic eruptions or forest fires, or from human-made activities like burning coal, oil, and wood. After mercury hits the air it eventually settles onto the land and into the water, where bacteria and other microorganisms convert mercury into methylmercury. Then, fish and shellfish in the water begin to absorb it.
Fish that eat other fish tend to have higher levels of methylmercury. Large fish have more mercury for the simple reason that they usually live longer. They have more time to build up higher levels of mercury in their bodies.
See the lists below for general mercury levels of many common types of fish and how often to safely consume each type, according to the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) and the FDA.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends checking local advisories for the mercury content of fish caught in your area using their website.
Fish Nutrition Facts
Low-Mercury Fish
According to the FDA, there are many types of fish that tend to have low levels of mercury. You can safely eat two to three servings a week of the following fish—but pregnant and nursing women and small children should not eat more than 12 ounces (or two servings) a week:
- Anchovies
- Catfish
- Clam
- Crab
- Crayfish
- Croaker (Atlantic)
- Flounder
- Haddock
- Hake
- Herring
- Mackerel (North Atlantic, Chub)
- Mullet
- Oyster
- Perch
- Pollock
- Salmon
- Sardine
- Scallop
- Shrimp
- Sole
- Squid
- Tilapia
- Trout
- Whitefish
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Moderate-Mercury Fish
Other fish have moderate levels of mercury, which makes them safe to eat in moderation—six servings or fewer per month. However, pregnant and nursing women and small children should avoid eating the following fish:
- Bass (saltwater, striped, black)
- Buffalofish
- Carp
- Cod (Alaskan)
- Halibut
- Lobster
- Mahi Mahi
- Monkfish
- Perch (freshwater)
- Snapper
- Skate
- Tilefish (Atlantic)
- Tuna (canned chunk light)
High-Mercury Fish
Several larger fish contain higher levels of mercury, which could contribute to potentially dangerous levels of mercury levels in the body if consumed in excess. It is recommended to eat just three servings or less of these types of fish per month, but pregnant and nursing women and small children should avoid them entirely:
- Bluefish
- Grouper
- Sea Bass (Chilean)
- Mackerel (Spanish, Gulf)
- Croaker (White, Pacific)
- Sablefish
- Perch (ocean)
- Tuna (canned albacore, yellowfin)
Fish to Avoid
There are some fish that are very high and mercury and should be avoided altogether, particularly bluefish and grouper, according to the NRDC.
Additionally, the FDA recommends that adults and children should avoid eating the following large fish:
- King mackerel
- Marlin
- Orange Roughy
- Shark
- Swordfish
- Tilefish (from the Gulf of Mexico)
- Tuna (Bigeye, Ahi)
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7 Sources
Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Advice about Eating Fish.
Antunes dos Santos A, Appel Hort M, Culbreth M, et al. Methylmercury and brain development: A review of recent literature.Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. 2016;38:99-107. doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2016.03.001
Rice KM, Walker EM, Wu M, Gillette C, Blough ER. Environmental mercury and its toxic effects. J Prev Med Public Health. 2014;47(2):74-83. doi:10.3961/jpmph.2014.47.2.74
World Health Organization. Mercury and Health.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Questions & Answers from the FDA/EPA Advice about Eating Fish for Women Who Are or Might Become Pregnant, Breastfeeding Mothers, and Young Children.
National Resource Defense Council. The Smart Seafood Buying Guide.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Mercury Levels in Commercial Fish and Shellfish (1990-2012).
Additional Reading
- Methylmercury poisoning. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.
- Public Health Statement for Mercury. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Mercury Levels in Commercial Fish and Shellfish. Food and Drug Administration.
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.Metals - Eating Fish: What Pregnant Women and Parents Should Know.U SFood and Drug Administration.
Greenfield N.The Smart Seafood Buying Guide. National Resource Defense Council.
By Mark Stibich, PhD
Mark Stibich, Ph.D., FIDSA, is a behavior change expert with experience helping individuals make lasting lifestyle improvements.
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