The subject of mercury in our seafood has surfaced again, this time, not from a NYT’s article up north, but rather, an official DHEC Fish Advisories website from our own state government.

Along with this map is a listing of all the rivers and lakes throughout South Carolina. I suppose with all the creeks we have around here, there’s no way they could cover all of them (yet), but maybe that will be included down the road (hint, hint). Still, the DHEC Fish Advisory website is a great resource for you to check out; another is the NOAA FishWatch site, which focuses on the sustainability of fisheries nationwide.

The Cooper River page is broken down into the following categories:

• Cooper River - East Fork Cooper River (Quinby Creek to the “T”)
• West Fork Cooper River (From Diversion Canal to the “T”)
• The “T” to Bushy Park, and
• Downstream of Bushy Park.

It gives suggested meal quantities and schedules per week & per month, and any restrictions that may currently be in place.

For further information, contact:

Bureau of Water: Phone: (803) 898-4300 - Fax: (803) 898-4215

Last week I watched a documentary focused on the worldwide practice of flash-freezing fish performed by commercial fishermen. Even with the recent article on this blog about mercury levels in South Carolina’s seafood still in the back of my mind, I was thinking more about the possibility of tuna’s extinction than the idea that there may be mercury in all of them.

The subject of mercury levels in seafood came up again this morning while watching an episode on the Today Show. The guest was a doctor specializing in food & health. She mentioned that predator-type fish (shark, tuna, swordfish, etc.) are the ones that contain the highest levels of mercury. She also said that eating seafood in moderation is key. The inspiration for their story was published by the NYT two days ago: High Mercury Levels Are Found in Tuna Sushi, one that immediately caught flak from the National Fisheries Institute.

The NFI’s website states: “From responsible aquaculture, to a marketplace supporting free trade, to ensuring consumers have the facts on the health benefits of fish and shellfish, NFI and its members support and promote sound public policy based on hard science.”, so it’s no surprise they immediately published “Errors, Inaccuracy Mar NYT Sushi Story“. The opening paragraph from the NFI article says it all, but please go read the whole thing:

In a poorly-sourced, sensational article in this morning’s New York Times, reporter Marian Burros presents a distorted report on sushi and seafood that is at odds with widely accepted science. The story is unreliable and contradicts broadly-held medical advice that tuna and other kinds of fish are an essential part of a healthy diet. The Times story is alarmist, special interest-driven journalism and should be treated with extreme skepticism.

I’m a firm believer in hearing all sides of the story before making a decision, and thanks to the NFI’s article, I will continue enjoying plenty of seafood.

After reading the recent article on mercury levels in SC’s fish, which supplied the following quote, it got me thinking of a more proactive stand I could take against it personally:

Mercury hot spots in the Edisto River/Four Holes Swamp area and along the Little Pee Dee and Lynches rivers showed how some people who eat fish from these waterways have unusually high levels of mercury in their bodies.

It’s not a new story, but certainly one to be aware of. Of note to me was the mention of new coal plants coming. While it’s America’s most abundant domestic source of energy (besides the obvious, and more GREEN solar, wind, etc. alt-energy choices), it is also extremely hazardous to one’s health.

I think the current movement towards nuclear energy provides the best alternative until other alt-energy sources become more economical. Surely they’ve upgraded safeguards since 3-Mile Island and Russia’s non-OSHA-enforced Chernobyl disaster…

Just venting ’cause I love seafood I need to start checking store labels to see where my seafood is coming from.

*UPDATE: Environmental groups critical of proposed power plant