I think that would be way, way, premature and unecessary MD & Gunter.

This is exactly the point of my original post; to defuse the notion that all large fish have (dangerously) high levels of methylmercury. There is no reason to think that every large fish (or barracuda since thats the peche du jour) has high (inedible) levels of mercury. I agreed with CollyK's subsequent post becasue it more accurately assess the issue; contaminats (all contaminants) bioaccumulate more in the larger specimens of apex species, but not all (large fish) contain levels considered "unsafe". Her citation speicifically states that in the Gulf of Honduras they did find unsafe levels in two speces (only shark and Goliath grouper), and probably due to the elevated levels of pollution in those waters.

The accurate statement is that larger fish tend to accumulate more as a result of their position on the food chain but that does not mean they are over a recommended consumption level as might have been implied in an earlier statement. It is appropriate to note the consumption guidelines for children and pregant women, and to keep in mjind that larger fish tend to bioconcentrate. To yank/remove/Kaibosh/electrophorese a popular menu and local fare item at yyour restaurant based on the statements made on this or any forum, other than a credible local health advisory, would be inappropriate until such time as data demonstrates otherwise.

In fact after all my research of available online literature I could only find references to Gulf of Honduras studies. I could find nothing regarding either the presence of any regional ciguatera occurrences or unsafe levesl of methyl mercury in food species near AC. Yes ciguatera can show up, and yes mercury tends to be elevated in apex species but again there is no evidence that there is anything unusual about either in one of AC's most favorite food fish, the barracuda.

Please dont take it off the menu! I look forward to coming in a gnoshing on a nice barrie filet in the near future!

EDIT" please excuse the typos I speared my indec finger on one of my larger Rapala's llast night...

I do and have eaten Barracuda. It's up to all of us to be well informed about what we eat and drink. Risks we choose to take are very personal. We all know the risks associated with lots of things that we do but continue to do them. I don't think there is any reason at all it should be taken off the menu anymore than rice, pork or lettuce - all commonly known to be associated with poisoning in some parts of the world. Know about what you eat and where it came from (learn about factory farmed chickens and see how safe you feel eating them afterwards) and then eat and enjoy. That's what I think anyway.