To start with, pregnant women should avoid all fish cultivated in fish farms. Fish farms utilize byproducts of large fish processing as part of the mix that makes fish food for the farm-raised fish. Large fish such as sharks, swordfish, tuna, and any other fish that have long life spans and are high in the food chain, are more likely to accumulate larger amounts of ocean pollutants in their bodies. Such pollutants include mercury and various dioxins. It is known that mercury causes brain damage and dioxins are potent carcinogens. Therefore, pregnant women should seek out small, wild fish that are less polluted. Such fish include among others, red snapper, sea bass, striped bass, sardines and wild Alaskan Salmon.
