By Zeeshan Mumtaz
ISLAMABAD: When we talk about the health benefits of eating fish in the context of the human diet and food plan, then the common narrative refers to fish as one of the healthiest things we can eat.
But some health experts are wondering if we need seafood in our diets in light of the increased availability of plant-based substitutes and growing worries about its sustainability and carbon footprint in the context of sea or water pollution
UN, FAO reports on fish
Since 1974, the United Nations (UN) Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) reports state that fresh Fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels have declined from 90% to just under 66% in the Fish reserves.
Concerns about fish as healthy diet
Although, concerns over mercury and other different water pollutants are regarded as elements that affect the health of pregnant or breastfeeding, women. For instance, health experts recommended women limit the eating of some species of Fish.
Now the question arises whether eating Fish enhances one’s health or makes the health of a person risky.
Fish healthy or harmful for human
According to health views by experts in recent decades, they indicate the most major concerns about Fish, in which one of which has been its potentially toxic levels of contaminants or pollutants and metals.
Another concern about against health benefits of Fish is polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) induced in Fish meat. The chemical ‘Polychlorinated biphenyls’ (PCBs) are the chemical waste and chemical pollutants drained into seas and rivers majorly by the industrialized world.
Fish food and protection of water
Although since the 1980s, the World Health Organization (WHO), UN, and the UN Environment Program Agency (EPA), under their legal framework of the Sea Dumping Act have banned the dropping of industrial waste into seas and rivers, these industrial chemicals and waste were used globally in significant ratio and still remain in our water and soil.
Waste and other dangerous materials cannot be dumped at sea in accordance with international law in order to protect Fish and other marine life.
So, the reports suggest that this industrial waste has been linked with multiple health hazards that impact health and specifically affect the health related to the immune system to the brain.
Fish and polychlorinated biphenyls
While polychlorinated biphenyls (Industrial Chemicals) are present in every food item from dairy products to drinking water, the highest levels tend to be found in Fish. Meanwhile, apart from the polychlorinated biphenyls, Fish is proven to be a healthy diet for the heart, brain, skin, hair, eyes, and for the entire health of humans for centuries and there is no doubt about it. If we can reduce water pollution and industrial waste to become Fish and other marine life, then we can get healthy food along with the preservation of marine life.
