Fish carries two completely different pregnancy questions, and mixing them up causes most of the confusion. The first is mercury: large, long-lived predator fish concentrate methylmercury in their muscle, and mercury crosses the placenta and can affect a baby's developing brain and nervous system. No cooking method reduces it. The FDA sorts commercial fish into three tiers: Best Choices like shrimp, salmon, cod, tilapia and sardines, fine 2 to 3 times a week; Good Choices like halibut, mahi mahi and snapper, capped at 1 serving a week; and a short avoid list, shark, swordfish, marlin, king mackerel, orange roughy, tilefish and bigeye tuna, which the NHS mirrors with its own do-not-eat trio of shark, swordfish and marlin.

The second question is what is alive in the fish: raw and undercooked seafood can carry Listeria, parasites and bacteria like Vibrio, all of which hit harder while pregnancy dials down your immune system. That is why raw sushi, ceviche, poke, raw oysters and cold-smoked fish like lox are off the menu regardless of their mercury scores, and why the same salmon that is discouraged raw is actively encouraged cooked. Heat solves this entire category: fish cooked to 145 F, shellfish steamed open, smoked fish baked into a hot dish.

The mistake to avoid is overcorrecting into no fish at all. Seafood is one of the best sources of the DHA omega-3s a baby's brain is built from, and both the FDA and ACOG recommend 8 to 12 ounces of low-mercury fish a week during pregnancy, more specific encouragement than almost any other food gets. The UK adds one extra line: oily fish like salmon, trout, sardines and herring are capped at 2 portions a week over pollutant buildup. Every fish below carries its own verdict with the tier, the weekly math and the official source, so you can keep seafood on the menu with zero guesswork.

Fish & seafood to skip (6)

• Sushi⊗Not advised
• Smoked Salmon⊗Not advised
• Ceviche⊗Not advised
• Poke⊗Not advised
• Swordfish⊗Not advised
• Shark⊗Not advised

Fish & seafood to check first (6)

• OystersⓘCheck first
• HerringⓘCheck first
• CaviarⓘCheck first
• Fish TacosⓘCheck first
• MackerelⓘCheck first
• Lobster bisqueⓘCheck first

Fish & seafood to keep within limits (8)

• Tuna☾In moderation
• Mahi Mahi☾In moderation
• Halibut☾In moderation
• Sea Bass☾In moderation
• Red Snapper☾In moderation
• Grouper☾In moderation
• Eel (Unagi)☾In moderation
• Canned tuna☾In moderation

Safe fish & seafood (22)

• Shrimp✓Safe
• Crab✓Safe
• Lobster✓Safe
• Scallops✓Safe
• Calamari✓Safe
• Salmon✓Safe
• Sardines✓Safe
• Cod✓Safe
• Tilapia✓Safe
• Clams✓Safe
• Mussels✓Safe
• Catfish✓Safe
• Trout✓Safe
• Anchovies✓Safe
• Crawfish✓Safe
• Octopus✓Safe
• Eel✓Safe
• Fish Sticks✓Safe
• Flounder✓Safe
• Haddock✓Safe
• Imitation crab✓Safe
• Tempura✓Safe

Frequently asked questions

Which fish & seafood are safe during pregnancy?

22 of the 42 listed on this page carry a safe verdict: Shrimp, Crab, Lobster, Scallops, Calamari, Salmon, Sardines, Cod, Tilapia, Clams, Mussels and Catfish. Each one links to the guidance it rests on.

Which fish & seafood should be avoided during pregnancy?

Sushi, Smoked Salmon, Ceviche, Poke, Swordfish and Shark. Each page names the specific hazard and what changes it, such as cooking until steaming hot or choosing a pasteurized version.

In-depth guides

• Foods to avoid during pregnancy: the complete sourced listThe complete sourced list, organized by the five risks that actually drive the rules.
• Fish, mercury and pregnancy: the complete guideThe FDA mercury tiers, omega-3s, sushi rules and a verdict table for every fish on this site.

Every verdict follows our sourcing methodology: official health guidelines only, most cautious position when they differ.

Last reviewed 2026-08-29 by the pregAI editorial team.

Browse all foods: can I eat this while pregnant?

pregAI is informational only and is not medical advice. Always check with your doctor or midwife about anything specific to your pregnancy.