Acronym Baseline saithe
Category
Fisheries
Title Baseline study of heavy metals and POPs in fillet and liver of saithe (Pollachius virens) Programme National Programme
Instrument (FP6)
Contact Type (FP7)
Strand (Interreg)
NA
Theme (FP7)
Activity Area (FP6)
Regional Area (Interreg)
Action (COST)
NA
Specific Programme (FP7)
NA
Funding source National Coordinator Bente M. Nilsen Coordinator email bni@nifes.no
Coordinator institution
NIFES - National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (Norway)
Institutions involved
NA - Not available (Not available) ,
Start year 2010 End year 2012 Funding (€) € NA Website NA Summary This report describes a comprehensive baseline study conducted to determine the levels of undesirable substances in Northeast Arctic saithe (Pollachius virens) from Norwegian waters. A total of 956 saithe were sampled from 39 different sites throughout the distribution area of this fish population in the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea, both in coastal regions and in the open sea. There is also saithe south of 62N and this will be studied in an ongoing study. Fillet samples were analysed for metals. Since saithe fillet is low in fat, lipid soluble compounds such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) will normally not accumulate in the fillet, and earlier analyses had demonstrated only very low levels of POPs in saithe fillet. Fillet samples were thus not analysed for POPs in this study. However, saithe liver samples were analysed for both POPs and metals. The concentrations of undesirable substances in muscle from Northeast Arctic saithe were well below the maximum levels set by EU for contaminants in fish muscle where such maximum levels exist (cadmium, mercury and lead). The concentrations of dioxins and PCBs in saithe liver were relatively high compared to the maximums levels, even if the levels were still lower than in cod liver (cf. baseline study for cod). A total of 10% and 5.3% of individual saithe had concentrations in liver above the maximum levels for sum dioxins and dioxinlike PCBs and sum PCB6, respectively.
(1) Document the levels of undesirable substances in Northeast Arctic saithe, an important fish species used for human consumption; (2) Provide comprehensive and reliable data needed for the authorities as a basis for decision-making regarding seafood safety; (3) Provide a basis for subsequent risk-based monitoring of undesirable substances in saithe.
Keywords
Fish;
Food safety;
Risk assessment;
Impacts;
Saithe;
Toxic substances;
Marine Region
41
Norwegian Sea (27.IIa)
42
Barents Sea (27.I)
2
Marine Region Map
