Fish is delicious, but some of them are dangerous, and not just because they might take a chunk out of you if you swim too deep. Remember, just because it’s a delicacy that doesn’t necessarily mean you should put it in your mouth. Think twice before you order up any of these sea creatures.
1. Pass on the Chilean Sea Bass
Chilean sea bass has been big since the 1990s when a marketing master masquerading as a fisherman changed its name from “Patagonian toothfish.” Why should you give it a miss? Because sea bass takes a decade before reaching sexual maturity. Indulge too much, and you could kill the species.
The rich and famous are famous for eating Beluga caviar, but they ought to stop—and so should you. The Beluga sturgeon is this close to extinction. Eating its eggs doesn’t seem like the smartest choice, does it?
Spanish mackerel are severely over-fished, too. Continuing to enjoy the admittedly flavorful fish is on track to wipe them out of existence. Maybe think about sampling a different kind of mackerel.
While mercury poison is a worry with certain types of fish, the threat of extinction is often a larger concern. Have you changed your mind about eating any of these sea creatures?