I confess. Yep, I really am a kid at heart. So when I got the opportunity to go see Pixar’s Finding Nemo, well, I jumped at the chance. My friend, Phil, from Springfield, was here for the weekend and he told me, "You just gotta see this movie." OK, I admit that I’ve seen nearly every movie this summer season thanks to my main squeeze, Brian. But Finding Nemo was the top movie in my book this season. If you haven’t seen it, well, it’s about fish. To be honest, the only fish I like is fried or broiled on a plate with tartar sauce. Which leads us to our main topic for the column—well, you knew it was coming, right? It’s about fish! TA DAH! Is it a healthy and safe protein source or is it a dangerous source to be avoided? Oh, great, now he’s going to ruin it for all us fish eaters. Not exactly. You make the decision as to the facts and data I’m about to reveal.

Let’s start with one of America’s favorite fish dishes, salmon, which is the best source of omega-3 fatty acids of any commonly eaten fish. Omega-3 is known to protect us against heart attacks and strokes. Did you know that approximately 60% of all salmon is now farmed?

But a study of farmed salmon found some alarming information. Seems that studies this summer found toxic chemicals and colorants were in our favorite fish. A non-profit research group called The Environmental Working Group went around to supermarkets and grocery stores and found that the purchased farmed salmon contained PCBs. This stuff had been banned since the 1970s, but it’s still found its way into the environment. Do you want to know what PCBs can do to you? Well, how about cancer, reproductive problems, and an immune system gone wack-o. Many consumers have turned to wild salmon—which is generally free of toxins but is usually harder to find. If you do find it, it’ll be three times the price of farmed salmon. How can we protect ourselves from the dreaded PCBs? Well, it holes up in animal fat. The best way is to trim the fat off, then bake, broil, or grill it so that the fat cooks off. Don’t fry the fish because that procedure will seal in the fat. As if the PCBs weren’t bad enough, the coloring that is added to farmed salmon is a chemical called canthaxanthin. That’s the stuff they put in tanning pills that’s supposed to tan you from the inside out. Experts tell you not to worry about the chemical, but I’ll decide for myself what’s good for me. They say you can consume 8 oz. of farmed salmon a week without any worry—so you decide.

The real favorite of America is really the tuna—tuna is King. You can thank canned tuna for that one. Consumers have long heard that it contained mercury, but the level of that element is a lot lower than in swordfish or shark (both of which are very popular today). Listen up. Tuna steaks are higher in mercury than is canned tuna. The FDA is analyzing tuna and may publish new recommendations at the end of the year. Seems pregnant women and small children should limit their intake of tuna. A recommended 1 to 3 oz. of tuna a week for small kids is ok.

Do you like shrimp (yum) or other types of shellfish? Well, we’ve been told that these are generally safe to eat and aren’t associated with toxin risk. In fact, you can eat up to 12 oz. of these types a week and still be in the parameters of safety. Also included with these types are sole, cod, tilapia, and wild salmon.

Now, how many of you out here get your fish oil in those transparent little fish oil pills? Yep. Lots of you, I’ll bet. With all the debate swirling around fish, you may want to think this one over. Seems a study was done using 26 fish oil supplements and found that in many cases, if consumers take as many pills as the back of the bottle says, then yikes! You will have consumed a high level of PCB—remember when I said that (in salmon) they are concentrated in fish fat? Well, the supplements are made up of fish fats. The solution to this is to take 1 pill every two days and ignore what the back of that bottle says or you could get your omega 3 from eating leafy greens, seeds, and nuts, too.

And last but not least, comes word that we weekend fish catchers need to know that the fish we catch in our lakes and streams and rivers run a high risk of contamination. These water sources are usually under some kind of health advisory due to the fact the fish are high in mercury and PCB levels. Say your fishing in the lovely Susquehanna River for some perch—the area is peaceful and serene but 10 miles up the river is a nuclear plant. It’s what you don’t see that could harm you. Believe it or not, the EPA has an advisory list of all the rivers, streams, and lakes where you may be headed to do some fishing. Click on the National Listing of Advisories and plug in the body of water you will be fishing in. A little information can go a long way.

Now don’t get me wrong, fish is a very good source of protein and is a great tasty food all of us enjoy, but we need to know these things and I thought you all should. To leave you on a happy note, you’ll be glad to know that Finding Nemo has surpassed The Lion King as the most popular animated film of all time. Little Nemo would be proud!