There is no accepted scientific evidence that shark fin provides any medicinal or health benefit. A long believed myth that eating shark fin will increase a mans fertility couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, studies have shown that sharks have some of the highest levels of toxic mercury found in any fish (Pethybridge, 2010) and mercury has been directly linked with infertility (Choy, 2003), and a host of other disorders.

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What is mercury?

Mercury is a heavy metal element that occurs naturally in the environment. Mercury is also created and released into the air through industrial pollution. From the air, mercury can enter the water in streams and oceans and be converted to methylmercury. As fish feed in the contaminated waters, the levels of methylmercury build up in their muscles. As a general rule, the bigger or older the fish, the more the mercury will have built up in them. Some fish, like sharks and swordfish, accumulate much higher levels of mercury than others.

Why should I be worried about mercury?

Methylmercury is the form of mercury that can potentially be harmful to women attempting pregnancy, unborn babies and small children. If a person regularly eats types of fish that are high in methylmercury (eg. Sharks), it can accumulate in their blood over time. Babies and small children are more sensitive to the effects of mercury and are therefore at potentially greater risk. As it takes the body many years to get rid of mercury, women may have high levels even before they attempt pregnancy.

Mercury levels in seafood and fertility

Mercury contamination has been found in many different types of seafood from sharks to oysters, but sharks are amongst the highest. Women consuming shark while pregnant increase their risk of giving birth to babies with birth defects and neurologic impairment. Studies have demonstrated that mercury consumption may be directly related to infertility and miscarriage (Holmes, 2009; Choy, 2003).

One study found that a group of infertile men and women had higher blood levels of mercury than a similar group of men and women with normal fertility (Choy, 2003). Men who had an abnormal semen analysis and women with otherwise unexplained infertility also had higher levels. The higher levels corresponded to increased consumption of seafood.

It is, therefore, advisable that if you are attempting to conceive you should reduce your consumption of mercury contaminated seafood. Below are recommendations by the U.S. FDA for selecting and eating fish.

1.   DO NOT EAT

• Shark
• Swordfish
• King Mackerel
• Tilefish

They contain the highest known levels of mercury.

2.      Eat no more than 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.

• Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish.
• Another commonly eaten fish, albacore ("white") tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of albacore tuna per week.

3.      Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in your local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas.

If no advice is available, eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per week of fish you catch from local waters, but don't consume any other fish during that week.

Follow these same recommendations when feeding fish and shellfish to your young child, but serve smaller portions.

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