Which fish is eaten in which season?

It is necessary to have a balanced and regular diet to protect against chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, to keep the body fit and to live a healthy life. Fish; It is a very nutritious food source that must be included in the diet. It meets the macro and micronutrients the body needs thanks to the omega acids, proteins and minerals it contains. You can find the answers to your questions such as “How much fish should I consume per week?”, “What are the points to consider when consuming fish?” and “Which fish to eat in which season?” in the following sections of the article.

What are the Fish Species?

For a balanced and regular diet, at least 2 portions of fish should be consumed per week. It would be beneficial to include fish types such as sardines and salmon, which are classified as fatty fish, in the consumed portion. The amount of fish that should be consumed may differ for pregnant, breastfeeding women, babies and children.

Oily fish; It is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and contributes to the protection of heart health. In addition, this type of fish is rich in vitamin D. Fish that fall into the oily fish category can be classified as follows:

• Herring
• Sardine
• fire fish
• sprat
• Salmon
• Trout
• Mackerel

Fish belonging to the white fish group are low in fat. For this reason, white fish can be consumed as an alternative to red meat containing low amounts of saturated fat, especially by people in the middle and older age groups. Although some types of white fish also contain Omega-3 fatty acids, this amount is lower than oily fish. Fish species that can be given as examples of white fish are as follows:

• Whiting
• Cod
• Flounder
• coal fish
• Gray mullet
• red snapper
• freshwater sea bream

Shellfish are also low in fat; It is a food group rich in selenium, zinc, iodine and copper minerals. The marine creatures that fall into this group are as follows:

• Prawn
• clam
• Squid
• Lobster
• Oyster

How Much Fish Should Be Consumed?

For a healthy diet, at least 2 portions of fish should be consumed per week, at least one portion of which should be fatty. One serving of fish should be 140 grams. However, it should not be forgotten that some fish species have a maximum amount that can be consumed due to reasons such as heavy metal accumulation.

It is recommended to consume at least one serving of fatty fish per week. Heavy metal accumulation in oily fish is low.

Most types of whitefish are safe from heavy metal accumulation. White fish species that may cause problems in terms of metal accumulation; dorade, sea bass, turbot, blackjack, and spurred shark. White fish other than these species can be consumed in any amount. Although shark and merlin fish are also included in the white fish category, there are rules to be observed regarding the consumption of these fish. Children, women planning to become pregnant, or women who are already pregnant should avoid consuming these types of fish due to the amount of mercury they contain. Other adults should not consume more than 1 portion of these fish per week.

It would be beneficial for children to follow the above recommendations regarding the amount of fish they should consume and the types of fish they can consume. There is no problem for boys to consume up to 4 portions of fish per week, but it may be beneficial for girls to consume no more than 2 portions per week. The reason for this situation is that the fat tissue in girls increases, especially after puberty, and the accumulation of heavy metals from fish in this fat tissue. To avoid heavy metal accumulation, caution should be exercised regarding the amount of fish consumed, especially in girls.

Which Fish to Eat in Which Month?

Accessing seafood has become easier thanks to technological advances in packaging and cold chain. However, especially when consuming fresh fish, it is important to know which fish is suitable for the current season and month. Parameters such as reproduction, water temperature and migration affect the answer to the question “Which fish to eat and when?” Season is an extremely important criterion for fish. Therefore, looking at the fish seasons table before consuming seafood and making your choice accordingly can help you prepare a more delicious meal. Examining the table below before consuming fish will help you eat tastier and more nutritious fish.

Fish timings, that is, the seasonal fish table that answers the question “Which fish is delicious in which month?” is as follows for our country:

• January:Octopus, trout, anchovy, horse mackerel, turbot, mullet, red snapper, red snapper, coral, squid, halibut, chicken fish, toric.
• February:Octopus, trout, anchovy, horse mackerel, butt, turbot, mullet, red snapper, red snapper, sea bass, coral, whiting, squid, halibut, chicken fish, toric.
• March:Octopus, trout, horse mackerel, butt, turbot, mullet, red snapper, chub, sea bass, coral, whiting, squid, flounder.
• April:Octopus, trout, horse mackerel, butt, turbot, mullet, red snapper, chub, sea bass, coral, whiting, squid, flounder.
• May:Octopus, trout, mullet, red snapper, sea bass, coral, whiting, squid, flounder.
• June:Octopus, lepidoptera, trout, red snapper, sea bream, coot, coral, squid, grouper, flounder, sardine, sea bass.
• July:Octopus, leprechaun, trout, sea bream, sea bream, red snapper, coot, coral, squid, grouper, flounder, sardine, sea bream, sea bass.
• August:Octopus, leer, trout, red mullet, sea bream, red snapper, red snapper, sea bream, bluefish, coral, squid, grouper, bonito, flounder, sardine, sea bream, sea bass.
• September:Octopus, lepidoptera, trout, red mullet, sea bream, red snapper, swordfish, sea bream, bluefish, coral, melanur, squid, grouper, bonito, flounder, sardine, sea bream, sea bass.
• October:Octopus, leprechaun, trout, red mullet, sole, scorpion, bream, mullet, red snapper, bream, bluefish, coral, melanur, squid, grouper, bonito, halibut, sardine, carp, toric, walleye, mackerel.
• November:Octopus, trout, red mullet, sole, anchovy, scorpion, bream, mullet, red snapper, chum, coral, squid, bonito, halibut, sardine, carp, chicken fish, pike, toric, mackerel.
• December:Octopus, trout, anchovy, scorpion, mullet, red snapper, red snapper, coral, squid, bonito, halibut, sardine, chicken fish, pike, turik.

What Should Be Considered When Eating Fish?

When consuming fish, care should be taken to ensure that the fish is fresh. For this reason, seafood shopping should be done from a known, reliable point. Care should be taken to ensure that the seafood purchased is kept on ice or in cold water. When you come home after shopping, if the fish will not be consumed immediately, the purchased product should be placed in the freezer immediately. Fish or shellfish should not be kept in water. Seafood that has been removed from the freezer and thawed should not be placed back in the freezer, it should be consumed, or thrown away if not consumed.

When buying frozen seafood, care should be taken to buy from reliable brands and the expiration date on the packaging should be taken into consideration.

Health problems such as food poisoning may occur when eating seafood. Shellfish served raw or undercooked may harbor certain types of viruses, such as norovirus. Again, some shellfish may contain various toxins. People who experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, drowsiness, breathing difficulties, memory loss, and confusion as a result of consuming these foods should apply to the nearest health center.

Some people may be allergic to seafood. When these people consume seafood, their bodies may develop a serious allergic reaction. Symptoms such as facial swelling, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, skin itching/rash are among the symptoms of a serious allergic reaction. People who show these symptoms should be treated immediately with an epinephrine auto-injector if they carry it with them. If the person is not carrying an epinephrine needle, the person should try to keep his/her breathing open and go to a health center as soon as possible.