ICAR-CMFRI reassures consumers that Indian seafood is safe to eat, urging the public not to avoid local fish over isolated parasite reports from other regions.
The clarification comes in the wake of recent reports highlighting parasitic infestations in skipjack tuna, which were based on a study conducted on fish samples harvested from the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Brazil.
Addressing concerns, ICAR-CMFRI emphasised that parasite prevalence varies significantly across different oceanic ecosystems depending on local environmental factors and the presence of intermediate host species, such as copepods.
Consequently, health findings from a specific region like the Atlantic Ocean cannot be generalised to the same species inhabiting Indian waters.
Dr Grinson George, Director of ICAR-CMFRI, stated that scientists at the institute routinely monitor and examine fish populations, including skipjack tuna, as part of ongoing marine biology and stock assessment studies. “The fish examined by the Institute along the Indian coast do not show external manifestations of harmful parasitic infestation,” Dr George confirmed.
ICAR-CMFRI reiterated that consumers can confidently continue incorporating tuna and other marine fish into their diets to benefit from their rich nutritional profile, provided standard cleaning and cooking practices are observed.