Another question raised on that raw list:

Where would mercury be store in a tuna's body?

As in fat, muscle, whole body?

The organic mercury in fish is absorbed into fatty tissue, organs, brain cells, and nerve cells in the humans who ingest it.

I am only guessing that it would be similarly absorbed by the fish that ingests it.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

The organic mercury in fish is absorbed into fatty tissue, brain cells, and nerve cells in the humans who ingest it.

I am only guessing that it would be similarly absorbed by the fish that ingests it.

I believe this is what they were getting at. Since we are talking about tuna heads, that are made up mainly by the parts you just mentioned.

Here's an article and chart of fresh water fish accumulation in gills, liver, kidney, and flesh, with the words heavy metals and organs highlighted.

http://209.85.141.104/search?q=cache:9kzWDo7AQfoJ:www.ceers.org/ijest/issues/full/v5/n2/502005.pdf+where+in+the+fish%27s+body+is+heavy+metals,+mercury,+organs&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us

I didn't come across a similar breakdown for ocean fish except for this one with a fee: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V78-4HG6FS4-4&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=c0730bf7d131d4b1de8cf20d4d71f367

Here's a link to Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood list:

http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/SeafoodWatch/web/sfw_factsheet.aspx?fid=129

Interestingly, tuna caught in Hawaii is considered a "Best Choice".

Here's a link that focuses on tuna:
http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=16314

And Mercury:
http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=15903

Wow!

A great big THANKS to all of you guys

Great catch about the mercury, Mike. Never even considered it

After reading about the mercury in ahi (it is called yellow fin tuna on the mainland, I figured out), I'm a little reluctant to eat it myself any more. Gonna be hard though, as I eat ahi sushi and/or poke at least 3 times a week (usually more). It's just about impossible to avoid here.

According to the site provided by Sarah, ahi should be eaten no more than three times per MONTH due to it's mercury content (once/month for kids). Now I'm depressed, but much better informed

As the heads do have a fair amount meat, alot of it is brain. I will pass on the ahi for Cleo and Alex. Luckily, I think I can get some other fish heads with less mercury from the same source (still free--my friend works at a local seafood distributor). So, I will do as Steve suggests and feed the heads, but be sure to check the website Sarah provided before I feed it to my dogs. As for me, I'm already too messed up. I will keep eating sushi, poke and seared ahi, but a little less

Thanks again everyone.....you guys are the best!

Still sucks, though. At least they have other fish heads that you can get.

Even though you're going to pass on the tuna, it still sounds like an awesome find. If you dig deep enough, I believe you can make a raw diet cost next to nothin'.:smile:

It really brought me down knowing that a FREE source for you looked to be falling through.:frown:Really glad to hear there are "alternative" fish heads.:smile:

 Quote: Eric Sacks

Great catch about the mercury, Mike. Never even considered it

Can't take credit for it. I was just relaying what others had told me.:wink:

Mike,

You are very thoughtful, kind and humble. I give you the credit, b/c you went and found the info.....after all, there are no original thoughts

Thanks again.

I still considered Mercury. My god, how can you avoid mercury talk these days? Not that it's not something to consider, but consider how long a dog lives.

They don't have decades to accumulate it either. It would seem that it would temper the concern.

How many people have been (ignorantly?) eating tuna since the 70s? Particularly our pacific brethren like Eric.

You still with us Eric?

However, if you have other free varieties of heads...go nuts. I'm jealous.