Health experts recommend fish consumption twice a week for overall health, noting that fish provides the body with fatty acids, amino acids, minerals, and various vitamins.
Nevertheless, water pollution and its effects on fish have raised concerns. A common dangerous substance, mercury is usually present in fish which live in enclosed water systems that are polluted by effluents and industrial waste. The Caspian Sea shared between five countries - Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan - is in ‘critical condition’ with oil tankers alone dumping over 120,000 tons of pollutants annually. Sewage from cities bordering the sea exacerbates the pollution. The various fishes from the sea are not only facing decline but also questions whether it is healthy and safe to eat Caspian fish.
Experts are recommending fish from the Persian Gulf such as the arrow-barred Spanish mackerel, which is considered healthy and a better option.
Order of Priority
Further, all fish farms in the country do not provide expert supervision. Health expert and nutritionist Dr. Arasb Dabbaq Moqaddam suggests the following priority order for fish consumption: Oceanic and freshwater fish (such as blue grenadier), south water fish, north water fish, and finally farm fish, reports Salamat News.
In general, small fish below one kilogram is recommended for consumption. While a high level of potential pollutants accumulate in liver and gill which are not edible, some of the contaminants get secreted into the fish. Therefore it is crucial to trust only packaged fish approved by the Iran Veterinary Organization and labeled with product information.
Fish raised in fish farms or lakes such as salmon which do not survive in freshwaters are recommended during pregnancy as they do not contain mercury. “As a rich source of Omega-3, fish contributes to the healthy brain development of the fetus,” says nutritionist Dr. Saied Hosseini.
