At USS Nemo, we pride ourselves on bringing seafood to the southern port-town of Naples, Florida. We’ve even been nationally recognized by the New York Times, claiming our restaurant is “almost worth a trip to Naples in and of itself” thanks to our fresh, delicious seafood meals and fine dining experience.

You can understand our frustration and sadness when we hear customers and reviewers alike making false claims about fish and the seafood industry. Here are four common seafood misconceptions many people often pass around. Get the facts straight, so your seafood trivia is as sharp as a swordfish’s bill!

1. Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Eat Seafood

This is FICTION. Most often, pregnant women are told not to eat seafood when going out to dining experiences. While it’s true that the light smell of fish may make a pregnant woman’s stomach queasy, it’s safe for them to eat seafood. Tilapia, salmon, trout and most types of canned tuna have little to no levels of mercury which will not affect the baby’s development.

In fact, there are some health benefits for the baby and mother when eating seafood — fatty omega-3s are great for eye and brain development in babies while also improving the mother’s heart, skin and mood. However, the seven types of fish to avoid while pregnant do include shark, swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel, orange roughy, marlin and bigeye tuna — this is commonly used in sushi, so beware!

2. Fish Is Healthier When it is Fresh

This is FICTION. While fresh versus frozen is a preferential choice, the misconception that frozen fish is bad for you is not true. With recent developments in freezing technology, keeping fish frozen will keep the same nutritional value found in fresh fish.

We may be a bit biased, but at USS Nemo, we believe our fresh fish caught directly from our Naples, Florida waters tastes better than any frozen fish; but that may just be something you need to try for yourself!

3. Avoid Seafood to Keep Your Cholesterol Levels Low

This is FICTION. Multiple health agencies and departments have stated that consuming seafood does not negatively harm your body’s cholesterol. Seafood is actually quite low in saturated fats, keeping your cholesterol levels okay. In fact, the cholesterol found inside fish won’t affect the human blood cholesterol. Come on in and enjoy a plate of your favorite seafood dish!

4. The Majority of Seafood in the US Is Sourced Globally

This is a FACT! Many studies have shown that more than 90 percent of the seafood in restaurants and retail markets comes from global waters outside of the United States. The reason for this is rather simple — the fresh waters located around other countries’ coasts provide a better yield for fish.

However, even though this claim is a real seafood fact, we like to keep ourselves different and unique at USS Nemo. Our fresh fish is not sourced globally because our supply comes from local vendors, right here in Naples. It’s part of our effort of making Naples the best place to visit for a culinary experience. Make a reservation or stop into USS Nemo and put your seafood facts to the test — whether you’re enjoying lunch, dinner or dessert!