• Tuna is a large, saltwater fish that includes many different species. Once known as the "Chicken of the Sea," tuna has gained popularity in its own right as a low calorie, high protein fish rich in heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids and is currently the second most popular seafood served in the United States.Nutrition Data: Bluefin Tuna, raw

• 1. Varieties include bluejack, skpjack and yellowfin
  2. Contains 40 calories, 7 grams of protein and 363 grams of Omega-3 fatty acids per ounceNutrition Data: Bluefin Tuna, raw
  3. Japan and U.S. consume 65% of world's tunaHealthy Tuna: Tuna Facts
  4. U.S.: 83% of tuna eaten for lunchHealthy Tuna: Tuna Facts
  5. January, 2009: 282 pound bluefin tuna sold for over $100,000 in JapanYahoo News: Premium tuna fetches $100,000 in Tokyo auction (January 5, 2009)

• Overfishing

  As tuna has skyrocketed in popularity many tuna species have become overfished and are in danger of extinction. Conservation efforts have helped to alleviate this problem, with many countries willingly reducing the number of tuna they catch in a given year to help maintain the overall health of the population.Reuters: Pacific nations to cut bigeye tuna catch by 30 percent (December 13, 2008)

• Tuna and Mercury

  Because tuna is a large fish that eats other, smaller fish, heavy metals such as mercury can build up in the meat of tuna. In late 2008, the actor Jeremy Piven pulled out of a Broadway production due to a reported high mercury count that was attributed, in part, to eating too much tuna sushi.Stamford Advocate: High mercury levels tied to sushi(January 3, 2009) The FDA and EPA guidelines recommend that pregnant women and children limit their tuna intake to 12 ounces of canned tuna, or 6 ounces of tuna steaks, per week.EPA: What You Need to Know about Mercury in Fish and Shellfish

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