Mercury in Tuna

[Pelagic Captain]

An editorial in today's Vancouver Columbian decried the issues with mercury contaminated tuna. The writer was for the most part talking about sushi and I think canned tuna however our west coast tuna does end up in cans under many labels, Has anyone read or found definitive reports on west coast albacore tuna ? and for that matter information on other species including salmon . Like many of you I'm putting more of my ocean fishing into tuna along with salmon . One or the other is on the table several times a week and I can't help but be concerned about contamination when I read articles like the one in the columbian. Tuna are very nomadic and could be feeding on the wrong stuff in the wrong place before they move into our area. Thanks, Bob

[Rip'N'Lips]

Originally Posted by Pelagic Captain

An editorial in today's Vancouver Columbian decried the issues with mercury contaminated tuna. The writer was for the most part talking about sushi and I think canned tuna however our west coast tuna does end up in cans under many labels, Has anyone read or found definitive reports on west coast albacore tuna ? and for that matter information on other species including salmon . Like many of you I'm putting more of my ocean fishing into tuna along with salmon . One or the other is on the table several times a week and I can't help but be concerned about contamination when I read articles like the one in the columbian. Tuna are very nomadic and could be feeding on the wrong stuff in the wrong place before they move into our area. Thanks, Bob

I'd recommend doing a search. This subject has come up and the general consensus is that the Albacore off the Oregon coast are juveniles and do not contain the mercury levels of the larger species. Last I saw it was 1/6 the maximum level allowed by the FDA.

Thanks,

Rip'N'Lips

[Grady252]

You could probably search archives for Oregonian. I think it was about threee years ago they had a nice article about a study that showed Our Albacore do not carry the mercury levels of other much large fish around the world and used in most of the canneries.

It was really a good article. I remember only a few details, so I don't want to speak about to many of the details. I think you should be able to find it. It may have even been posted on Ifish a couple of times. Might try a search here as well.

[fyshndad]

http://www.consumerfreedom.com/press...fm/release/227

http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.c...ry-in-tuna/?hp

http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ncs/news...4/albacore.htm

Here are a few places to look

[ron m]

These came from a search at Oregon Sea Grant and OSU. You can also do a google search, i'm sure that would turn up more sites than you'd want to read, but the info will be available if you look.

This is from limiting the search on "mercury" to just Oregon Sea Grant

http://search.oregonstate.edu/web/?q...submit2=Search

This is from a search on "mercury" from both Oregon sea Grant and OSU.

http://search.oregonstate.edu/web/?q...submit2=Search

You can find what you asked for by reading some of the links from these searches.
ron m

[Tuna Dog]

Last week while working the Seattle Boat Show I read a similar article in the Seattle paper and it mentioned higher Mercury content in bigger more mature fish which included sword fish, yellowfin tuna and sharks. It also mentioned albacore caught off Oregon and Wash. had much lower mercury content as mentioned above by RNL...The immature albacore haven't been exposed as long as more mature fish.

Last year, when the OTC gave the canned tuna donation to the Oregon Food Bank, they gave us some literature that said the same thing. Oregon albacore are far lower in mercury content and as such they prefer local caught tuna.
They buy 4 semi loads of canned tuna per year to give to the less fortunate.
They mentioned something about the OTC catching enough tuna to replace those 4 semi loads....that's a lot of tuna.

[havnfun2]

belive OSU and UW did some nice report a few years back that did show the immature fish we catch off the oregon and wa coast is indeed under the federal limits for mercury.

[Pilar]

They mentioned something about the OTC catching enough tuna to replace those 4 semi loads....that's a lot of tuna.

It tastes pretty good too.

[KeyWest]

Originally Posted by Pelagic Captain

An editorial in today's Vancouver Columbian decried the issues with mercury contaminated tuna. The writer was for the most part talking about sushi and I think canned tuna however our west coast tuna does end up in cans under many labels, Has anyone read or found definitive reports on west coast albacore tuna ? and for that matter information on other species including salmon . Like many of you I'm putting more of my ocean fishing into tuna along with salmon . One or the other is on the table several times a week and I can't help but be concerned about contamination when I read articles like the one in the columbian. Tuna are very nomadic and could be feeding on the wrong stuff in the wrong place before they move into our area. Thanks, Bob

An editorial? Interesting, why would an editorial forum be used to sell a message about mercury? Smells a bit of a planted editorial to further some agenda. Most information that benefits the public comes out in an article not in an editorial. Editorials are usually reserved for opinions. (OK, I didn't read the article, but I'm pretty skeptical of anything in print).

[skein]

What if.... just what if... all the mercury BS was just that, BS. Kinda like "don't eat eggs, don't eat butter, milk is bad," etc, etc. Seems I remember coming across something saying the mercury histerics were just that, histerics.

I'll try to find that article.

PS. Yes, I know that mercury is bad, what I meant was the histerics saying everything was contaminated by killer levels of the stuff.

Skein

[Pilar]

Toxic things in predators are a common theme. Many raptors were in big trouble just 40 years ago and DDT was banned as a result of the effects on the birds.The pesticide made the egg shells thin. Just the residue was enough to contaminate the birds prey.

Our tuna are 1 and 2 yr olds. As the predator eats it accumulates the toxins found in it's prey. Methymercury is concentrated in older fish as they eat larger and larger fish which prey on smaller fish. At the top of the predator pyramid the large pelagics and tunas build up mercury as they get big.

Oregon fish are prized for oil content and flavor. And the low mercury levels.

[Spoiled Daddy]

If there is that much mercury in our tuna, then I should be a walking thermometer by now... Our stock of last years tuna is almost gone and I have eaten most of it.

Thanks for the info. It at least starts one to thinking...

the Spoiled Daddy

[Chromaflage]

Interesting. I just posted about this a couple weeks ago. Here's some info I found:

Sorry if this info has been posted before. But with the beginning of a new year, many folks (including myself) are trying to be a bit more concerned with health, nutrition, etc. I found this info on the Oregon's Choice site: http://www.oregonschoice.com/nutriti...?type=Albacore

Nutrition - Albacore Tuna*

Nutritional Information
For 100 gram serving (3.5 oz) raw, edible portion

Calories 172.0
Calories from fat 66.0
Protein grams 25.2
Fat grams 7.2
Saturated fat grams 1.9
Sodium milligrams 51.0
Cholesterol milligrams 38.0
Omega-3grams 2.1


*Source: Seafood Nutrition, J. Nettleton

Albacore is an excellent source of protein, is low in sodium and contains the highest concentrations (2.1 g per 3.5 oz serving) of heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids in the tuna family. Regular consumption of Omega-3 rich fish such as albacore has been linked to reduced risk of heart attack and stroke, reduction of depression-related symptoms, relief from arthritis pain and a lowering of blood pressure.

MERCURY is not a concern for the young, fat albacore we offer exclusively with our products. Tests done on our products reveal extraordinarily low levels at 0.2 ppm and lower. <snip> The FDA recommended limit is 1.0 ppm

[Duckwheat]

I am going to keep eating it until I can read the current temperature on my shin.

DW.

[retaliate]

I think there is some false/misleading information on the internet, yesterday I talked to a co-worker, & asked why he didn't go out with me for Tuna last year like we planned, he said he heard there was high Mercury levels in Albacore Tuna, & verified this on the Internet, I explained to him it's not so much the species but the size, as our junvenile fish havent had time to accumlate large amounts of Mercury, & in fact tests prove this. Iv'e heard other people say they heard Albacore has high Mercury levels also, Salmon too, I was standing in line at the Grocery store one day & a lady behind me had a couple bottles of Salmon oil capsules, we talked about the health benefits of Salmon oil, & she said "these are from the East Coast & don't have the Mercury that the West Coast has". I told her it's probably just the opposite, as I heard that Farm raised Salmon on the East Coast were being fed Food tainted with Mercury, in addition to the Mercury already in the Food chain, I don't think she believed me.

[Seahunt]

What he said!

Originally Posted by Duckwheat

I am going to keep eating it until I can read the current temperature on my shin.

DW.

[skein]

The American Heart Association states that, except for very small children and pregnant women, the benefits of eating fish far exceed the dangers posed by mercury.

Ken, ask him if he has any fluorescent lightbulbs in his house. Then show him this:

What to Do if a Fluorescent Light Bulb Breaks

Fluorescent light bulbs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal guidelines:

* Open a window and leave the room (restrict access) for at least 15 minutes.
* Remove all materials you can without using a vacuum cleaner.
* Wear disposable rubber gloves, if available (do not use your bare hands).
* Carefully scoop up the fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard.
* Wipe the area clean with a damp paper towel or disposable wet wipe. Sticky tape (such as duct tape) can be used to pick up small pieces and powder.
* Place all cleanup materials in a plastic bag and seal it.

If your state permits you to put used or broken fluorescent light bulbs in the garbage, seal the bulb in two plastic bags and put into the outside trash (if no other disposal or recycling options are available).

Wash your hands after disposing of the bag.

The first time you vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, remove the vacuum bag once done cleaning the area (or empty and wipe the canister) and put the bag and/or vacuum debris, as well as the cleaning materials, in two sealed plastic bags in the outdoor trash or protected outdoor location for normal disposal.

I think we tend to worry a lot -- about nothing. Personally, I'm laughing all the way to the pantry.

Skein

[retaliate]

Originally Posted by skein

The American Heart Association states that, except for very small children and pregnant women, the benefits of eating fish far exceed the dangers posed by mercury.

Ken, ask him if he has any fluorescent lightbulbs in his house. Then show him this:


I think we tend to worry a lot -- about nothing. Personally, I'm laughing all the way to the pantry.

Skein

Yep! & last the time I cheked worring is unhealthy.

[Orca]

Oh My,

And I thought the best plan was to put all the Fluorescent tubes in a garbage can, then toss in something heavy to implode then all, pickup any parts that flew out, then mash 'em again for good measure.

My days are likely numbered

[Reel Obsession]

I've been eating more than my share of TUNA! and so far no warning signs such as short-term memory loss.

[Reel Obsession]

I've been eating more than my share of TUNA! and so far no warning signs such as short-term memory loss.

[Reel Obsession]

I've been eating more than my share of TUNA! and so far no warning signs such as short-term memory loss.

[skein]

Reel Obsession!!!!

Skein

[pijon]

I have been eating tuna and salmon sandwiches everyday since august. My hair is getting thin, teeth are getting long and my eyebrows have started this weird growth pattern. Is this mercury or am I just old?

[Tuna Dog]

Originally Posted by retaliate

I think there is some false/misleading information on the internet, yesterday I talked to a co-worker, & asked why he didn't go out with me for Tuna last year like we planned, he said he heard there was high Mercury levels in Albacore Tuna, & verified this on the Internet, I explained to him it's not so much the species but the size, as our junvenile fish havent had time to accumlate large amounts of Mercury, & in fact tests prove this. Iv'e heard other people say they heard Albacore has high Mercury levels also, Salmon too, I was standing in line at the Grocery store one day & a lady behind me had a couple bottles of Salmon oil capsules, we talked about the health benefits of Salmon oil, & she said "these are from the East Coast & don't have the Mercury that the West Coast has". I told her it's probably just the opposite, as I heard that Farm raised Salmon on the East Coast were being fed Food tainted with Mercury, in addition to the Mercury already in the Food chain, I don't think she believed me.

It's amazing how often I've heard similar things from people...They only hear a small part of something and then make a false assumption.

[Chrome Bumper]

Originally Posted by Reel Obsession

I've been eating more than my share of TUNA! and so far no warning signs such as short-term memory loss.

I forgot about that. Of course they have mercury, that's what makes them so fast. If mercury was bad, then kids wouldn't be allowed to play with it.

[Reel Obsession]

Originally Posted by Chrome Bumper

I forgot about that. Of course they have mercury, that's what makes them so fast. If mercury was bad, then kids wouldn't be allowed to play with it.

LOL, yes, it's amazing some of us are even alive. My grandfather was a gold placer miner, and we always had mercury around. We literally had a jar of it in the hall closet that we would take ot just to play with. I'm sure the residual mercury on the floor around where we'd take it out and roll it around in our hands would qualify as a superfund clean-up project now.

If I've told you that story before, I apologize........

[skein]

If I've told you that story before, I apologize........

Nah, I don't think you've told that story before. At least I don't think you've told that story before.

Skein

[BaitStop]

I'm posting an article from the WFOA re: Mercury levels. From what I have read the large 60-90 lb. longline caught albacore can be elevated in mercury levels. Those are much older than the juveniles caught off the west coast. The large fish are typically caught by Japanese longline vessels & the fish can be brokered, sold and shipped for processing anywhere. Local fish are the way to go. I imagine a can of store bought albacore every once in a while won't be much to worry about.

http://wfoa-tuna.org/health/morrisseyhg06.pdf

[Sweepy]

Education is a good thing.

The boilers used for industry, schools, hospitals, and other users emit small amounts of mercury. We are polluting the world. The least amount of mercury produced by boilers is Natural Gas fired. Most institutions are using Natural gas if available.

The longer fish live the more likely the fish will have high mercury levels.

Nice post.

[FishFood]

i eating been the tuna many times. tuna good be when i eating

But seriously, folks, the environmental conflation and exaggeration is notorious. What they do is a study where they pump something (usually rats) with a substance at a million times environmental exposure, observe that it's harmful, then calculate an absurd minimum of exposure based on the fact that some harm was done by this over-exposure.

A good example is that the total of all the pesticide exposure you might encounter in your life from eating fruits and vegetables is the equivalent of eating 6 jars of pesto (as basil contains natural toxins, as do tomatoes).

Yet the EPA pesticide exposure standards would have you believing that organics are superior (even though they actually pollute the environment more through heavy manure usage and heavy use of metal fertilizers, which are not considered non-organic).

The really threatening pollution involved is the pollution of freedom with tyrannical misinformation for the purpose of creating fear and gaining power.

Originally Posted by Orca

Oh My,

And I thought the best plan was to put all the Fluorescent tubes in a garbage can, then toss in something heavy to implode then all, pickup any parts that flew out, then mash 'em again for good measure.

My days are likely numbered

[Grady252]

Gossip and rumor.... it is the same way people vote in our country..... It really sucks. One person heas something and he tells two friends, and he tells two friends, and so on, and so on.....

ODFW has had the Mercury warning in the regs for years about non migratory fish..... in the willamette and Columbia. I can't tell you how many times people have told me I shouldn't eat Salmon out of the Columbia.... I constantly remind people that Salmon are migratory and haven't lived their lives in the Columbia or Willamette.......

Now Sturgeon might be another story....

[Myles]

Chack the left sid eof the page for links, nothing but good news for teh Oregon coast silver bullets.

http://www.maryluseafoods.com/module....php?storyid=1

1/3 the mercury and almost 4 times the Omega-3 oils.

Myles

[Smily]

Nutrition - Albacore Tuna*

Nutritional Information
For 100 gram serving (3.5 oz) raw, edible portion

Great info Chromy. Has anybody actually stopped eating at 3.5 oz?