{"id":437,"date":"2013-10-18T18:57:16","date_gmt":"2013-10-19T01:57:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/catalinaop.com\/?p=437"},"modified":"2013-10-18T18:57:16","modified_gmt":"2013-10-19T01:57:16","slug":"bluefin-tuna-no-need-to-worry-about-radiation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/catalinaop.com\/bluefin-tuna-no-need-to-worry-about-radiation\/","title":{"rendered":"Bluefin Tuna: No Need to Worry About Radiation"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Rebecca Gardon<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo courtesy NOAA<\/p><\/div>\n

Worried about eating seafood? Fears are swirling that radiation leaking into the Pacific from Japan\u2019s Fukushima disaster in 2011 could surface locally as dangerous catches.\u00a0Catalina Offshore has been tracking the studies and issues carefully. The scientific community and the FDA have been working together to keep contaminated food from reaching our shores and continue to test.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s safe to stay in the water <\/span><\/p>\n

Domestically, Pacific-caught seafood <\/a> has been shown to have \u201croughly 300 times lower levels of cesium 137 and 134 (specifically related to Fukushima) than would prompt further investigation,\u201d according to the FDA.<\/p>\n

Revelations in September 2013 show that plumes of radioactive water have been recently released into the waters off Japan. This is never a good thing, but consider:<\/p>\n

– How vast the ocean is.<\/p>\n

– That migrating fish rinse out most of the radiation they\u2019ve been exposed to.<\/p>\n

– That naturally occurring and man-made radiation has existed in the seas since the last century.<\/p>\n

– That, most importantly, ongoing studies show levels are well below any health concerns.<\/p>\n

– By example, \u201cA person would have to eat more than 4,000 pounds of albacore tuna at the highest radiation level measured to increase his or her radiation level by just one percent…” according to Fionna Matheson, a spokeswoman from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) in an article published by the Coast News in San Diego<\/a> (which quotes our founder, Dave Rudie).<\/p>\n

Eat local and well<\/span><\/p>\n

Seafood continues to be an important part of our diet, a healthy source of protein and other nutrients.<\/p>\n

Stay on top of the issue and discuss it with a trusted fishmonger<\/a>. Of course, we\u00a0always\u00a0encourage you to seek out the most recent media coverage.<\/p>\n

Additional references.<\/span><\/p>\n