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I'm having a hard time finding official advice to avoid shellfish that doesn't advise avoiding fish too[1]. In fact, the FDA lists scallops, clams, shrimp, and oysters as having the lowest amount of mercury[2].

It looks like some shellfish toxicity is due to cyanobacteria[3], which is mostly caused by eutrophication from farm runoff. But scaling this system should help with that.

[1] https://www.epa.gov/choose-fish-and-shellfish-wisely/fish-an...

[2] https://www.fda.gov/food/foodborneillnesscontaminants/metals...

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shellfish_poisoning



There is a reason for this: Biomagnification

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomagnification


From memory, it depends on the toxin.

Heavy metals or things that aren't biologically eliminated accumulate as you go up the food chain.


That is true. The heavy metal parts was a miss recollection. Toxins from run-offs, contaminated water, and algal blooms are the main problems.

Because filter feeders are generally low on the food chain, they are actually a food type which is very low on heavy metals. Thanks for correcting me.




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