There are no consistent differences between wild and farmed fish in terms of safety and nutritional value, the European Food Safety Authority has told the European Parliament.
It had been asked by parliament to evaluate in general the health risks from human consumption of fish, and to include an impact and risk assessment related to consumption of Baltic herring and salmon.
"Consumption of fish, and in particular fatty fish due to its richness in long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, is beneficial to cardiovascular health and also to foetal development," said the opinion sent to the parliament.
"In general, dietary recommendations suggest weekly consumption of one to two portions of fatty fish."
It said the greatest susceptibility to the critical contaminants, methylmercury and dioxin-like compounds, occurred during early human development.