Is orange roughy safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about orange roughy during pregnancy?

1. Orange roughy is one of seven specific fish species that the FDA and EPA advise everyone avoid because of high mercury levels, alongside shark, swordfish, king mackerel, marlin, bigeye tuna, and Gulf of Mexico tilefish. 1
2. Large, long-lived, predatory fish like orange roughy build up the most methylmercury over their lifetime, and at high exposure levels mercury can affect a developing baby's brain growth, though following FDA fish guidance is not expected to raise that risk. 1
3. The FDA and EPA recommend 8 to 12 ounces, or 2 to 3 servings, a week of lower-mercury fish during pregnancy instead, since research suggests modest amounts of the right fish provide most of the neurodevelopmental benefit without the added mercury exposure. 2
4. Orange roughy is one of the longest-lived fish species known, capable of living up to 250 years, giving it far more time than most fish to accumulate mercury in its tissue. 3
5. Fish also supplies omega-3 fats that support a baby's brain and eye development, so current guidance favors swapping high-mercury choices like orange roughy for a low-mercury fish rather than avoiding fish altogether. 4

Is orange roughy safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. Early pregnancy is when the fetal brain and nervous system begin forming, so this is a good time to swap high-mercury fish like orange roughy for a low-mercury option before any exposure has a chance to add up.
• Second trimester. Methylmercury crosses the placenta throughout pregnancy, so continuing to skip orange roughy and other high-mercury fish while still enjoying 2 to 3 weekly servings of a low-mercury choice keeps the nutritional benefits of fish without the added mercury exposure.
• Third trimester. The fetal brain keeps developing rapidly in the third trimester, so the same avoid-and-swap approach still applies. An isolated serving eaten before you knew to avoid it is unlikely to reach a harmful dose, but making it a regular habit is what raises exposure.

FDA and EPA weekly fish guidance during pregnancy