Wild-caught and farm-raised Barramundi contain different mercury levels due to their very different diets. Methylmercury is primarily a concern in large predatory fish that consume other fish, so large wild-caught barramundi have a higher risk of containing mercury than our farmed barramundi.
Fish that contain high levels of mercury include shark, ray, swordfish, barramundi, gemfish, orange roughy, ling and southern bluefin tuna. Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and food.
The Better Fish® Barramundi contains no traceable levels of mercury or toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), and it's farmed without any antibiotics or chemicals, which makes barramundi very safe to eat.
Small fishes eat large quantities of plankton over time. 3 . Large predatory fish consume many smaller fish, accumulating methylmercury in their tissues. The older and larger the fish, the greater the potential for high mercury levels in their bodies.
Small or short-lived species, such as sardines, shrimp, crab and tilapia, generally have low amounts of mercury. Wild salmon, which eat plankton and small fish, are low in mercury, as are farm-raised salmon, which are fed fish meal containing little mercury.
Salmon, Wild-Caught (including canned)
Wild-caught salmon is low in contaminants, including mercury and lead. And some salmon, like pink and sockeye, from well-managed fisheries worldwide (particularly in Alaska), also tick the box for being lower in mercury and lead.
Does Barramundi contain mercury? The Better Fish® Barramundi has consistently tested below detectable limits for mercury (average of 0.02 ppm). The levels allowed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is 1 ppm.
Commercially sold fish that may contain high levels of mercury include shark (flake), ray, swordfish, barramundi, gemfish, orange roughy, ling and southern bluefin tuna. In freshwater environments containing mercury, some species of fish may contain high levels of mercury.
For most people, the risk from mercury by eating fish and shellfish is not a health concern. Yet, some fish and shellfish contain higher levels of mercury that may harm an unborn baby or young child's developing nervous system.
Barramundi is low in fat and high in omega-3 fatty acids, making it a great source of essential nutrients. Some consider barramundi one of the healthiest seafoods. This fish is great for your cardiovascular system. Including omega-3 fatty acids in your diet is an excellent start to a healthier lifestyle.
Barramundi packs half the calories of other world-renowned fish like salmon. It packs an extraordinary amount of protein while still offering proper nutritional value. One of the most important is that it is rich in Omega-3, offering such health benefits as: Improving mental health by fighting symptoms of depression.
Barramundi is High in Key Nutrients
In order to meet the recommended omega-3 requirements for a healthy heart and brain power, eat Aussie barra at least once or twice a week.
There is no method of cooking or cleaning fish that will reduce the amount of mercury in a meal. Methylmercury accumulates as you move up the food chain: Methylmercury in the water and sediment is taken up by tiny animals and plants known as plankton. Small fishes eat large quantities of plankton over time.
Oily fish are fish that contain at least 10% fat, most of which are the healthier omega-3 oils. In Australia, the oiliest fish include: canned salmon and sardines, some varieties of canned tuna, salmon, gemfish, blue-eye trevalla, blue mackerel, oysters and arrow squid.
Many fish have low mercury levels
Atlantic Salmon. Canned salmon and canned tuna in oil. Herrings. Sardines.
At very high exposures, this can lead to fatigue, muscle weakness, and dizziness and damage organs like the kidneys and liver. Chronic low-level exposure to methylmercury has also been shown to impair brain function. “There are benefits to eating fish, and there's nothing good about having methylmercury in them.
Nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury. But some contain high levels. Eating large amounts of these fish and shellfish can result in high levels of mercury in the human body. In a fetus or young child, this can damage the brain and nerves (nervous system).
The inhalation of mercury vapour can produce harmful effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs and kidneys, and may be fatal. The inorganic salts of mercury are corrosive to the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract, and may induce kidney toxicity if ingested.
Packed with nutrients for a healthier you
With half the calories of salmon, Barramundi is still packed with Omega-3 fatty acids (known to promote both brain and cardiovascular health) and boasts 21 grams of lean protein in a four-ounce serving.
Pregnant women need to limit the amount of fish they eat which contain high levels of mercury. These fish include: flake, ray, swordfish, barramundi, gemfish, orange roughy, ling and southern bluefin tuna.
Farmed barramundi are mainly produced on land in tanks and ponds, with minor volumes produced in the ocean in sea cages in Western Australia. As an omnivorous species, barramundi are dependent on the fishmeal and fish oil in feed sourced from wild caught fish.
Mercury and PFOS cannot be removed through cooking or cleaning -- they get into the flesh of the fish. You can reduce the amount of other contaminants like PCBs by removing fat when you clean and cook fish.
Issues fall into three main categories: environmental concerns, contamination, and omega-3 fatty acid levels in edible portions. The good news is both wild and farmed salmon have low levels of mercury, PCBs, and other contaminants.