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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, issued the following three recommendations for selecting and eating fish or shellfish so that women and young children can receive the benefits of eating fish and shellfish while reducing their exposure to mercury. (Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

1. Do not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.

2. Eat up to 12 ounces (two average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in 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. So, when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of albacore tuna per week.

3. Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in your local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. If no advice is available, eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per week of fish you catch from local waters, but don't consume any other fish during that week.

Source: http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/admehg3.html

On the Web, check fish advisories by state:

http://epa.gov/waterscience/fish/states.htm

For the latest EPA data and reports, go to:

http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/