Seafood and health addressed on NOAA site

To help consumers who want the nutritional benefits of eating seafood but worry about the sustainability of fisheries as well as contaminants such as mercury, a national agency has created a web site to answer questions about the most commonly consumed kinds of fish.

The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration launched FishWatch yesterday at the International Seafood Show now in Boston. The site offers species-specific information on the 50 most commonly fished or farmed seafood types.

A page on seafood and human health presents information on mercury, including advice for pregnant or nursing women, and tips on how to select, store, and prepare fish safely. The information is based on guidelines from the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, NOAA said.