On the other hand, the FDA warns pregnant women and women of childbearing age against eating shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. If they do eat it, they suggest no more than once a month. As for other seafood, the agency considers safe up to 12 ounces of cooked fish per week.

Do not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury. Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish. Another commonly eaten fish, albacore (“white”) tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna.

Least Concern (Population decreasing)

Swordfish provides an excellent source of selenium, a micronutrient that offers important cancer-fighting and heart health benefits. It is protein-rich and loaded with niacin, vitamin B12, zinc and Omega-3. Best of all, it’s low in fat and calories. Swordfish is also a guilt-free choice.

There have been very few reports of swordfish attacks on humans and none have resulted in death. Although there are no reports of unprovoked attacks on humans, swordfish can be very dangerous when provoked and they can jump and use their swords to pierce their target.

Can eating swordfish kill you? Although no unprovoked attacks on humans have been reported, swordfish can be very dangerous when harpooned. They have run their swords through the planking of small boats when hurt. In 2015, a Hawaiian fisherman was killed by a swordfish after attempting to spear the animal.

However, larger fish that have lived longer have the highest levels of methylmercury because they’ve had more time to accumulate it. These large fish (swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish) pose the greatest risk. Other types of fish and shellfish may be eaten in the amounts recommended by FDA and EPA.

The subject is parasites. Big, black, unsightly ones that local chefs have been noticing lately in the flesh of that delicious denizen of the deep, swordfish. As Roberts explains: “Sometimes you find them when you cut into a big piece of fish. They look like sea worms, and are about a quarter of an inch in diameter.

Preparation. Swordfish fillets often have small bones left in the meat. Rinsing the picked fillets under cool, running water removes juices from the swordfish that makes the meat taste slightly fishier. A marinade will tenderize the swordfish meat and infuse it with flavor.

That dark, nearly black area in the middle of your tuna or swordfish steak is nothing bad or unhealthy, although you may not like its strong flavor. You can leave it in when you cook the fish: the stronger flavor of that one area will not affect the rest of the fish.

Worm parasites only cause health problems when inadequately prepared fish are eaten (proper freezing and normal cooking kill the worms). The worms are not passed from person to person. Swallowing a live parasitic worm may not cause any illness if it passes through the intestine and is excreted.

All living organisms, including fish, can have parasites. They are as common in fish as insects are in fruits and vegetables. Parasites do not present a health concern in thoroughly cooked fish. Parasites become a concern when consumers eat raw or lightly preserved fish such as sashimi, sushi, ceviche, and gravlax.

The lime juice will not kill any type of parasites in fish; if at most, the juice will make the worms taste better.

The white worms we occasionally spot in salmon fillets are parasites called roundworms. Though these worms are more noticeable in salmon due to the contrast in color, they can be found in many white fish too — they’re just camouflaged.

Taking Off the Skin So when you’re cooking salmon, keep that skin on: It provides a safety layer between your fish’s flesh and a hot pan or grill. Start with the skin-side down, and let it crisp up. It’s much easier to slide a fish spatula under the salmon’s skin than under its delicate flesh.