What characteristic leads to mercury bioaccumulation in predatory fish like amberjack?
Answer
Larger size and longer lifespan
The health assessment of seafood requires consideration of potential environmental contaminants, most significantly mercury. Mercury contamination in the marine environment is a persistent issue that affects predatory species through a process known as bioaccumulation. This accumulation is directly correlated with the fish's trophic level, size, and age. Larger fish that have lived longer have had more time to consume contaminated smaller organisms, leading to a higher concentration of heavy metals within their tissues. Therefore, opting for smaller, younger individuals of species like Greater Amberjack is a practical strategy to inherently reduce cumulative exposure to these metals.
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