The Baltic Proper and the Skagerrak

Metal concentrations in biota; Concentration of other organic contaminants in biota

The Contaminant Programme in marine biota constitutes an integrated part of the national monitoring activities in the marine environment as well as the international programmes within ICES, OSPARCOM and HELCOM. The programme is financed by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. The eelpout is considered as a more or less stationary species living close to the bottom, feeding on insect larvae, molluscs, crustaceans, worms, hard roe and small fishes. It becomes sexually mature when 2 years old at a length of 16 - 18 cm. The spawning takes place during August - September. After 3-4 weeks the eggs hatch inside the mother's body where the fry stay for about three months. The possibility to measure the number of eggs, fertilized eggs, the size of the larvae and the embryonic development makes the species suitable for integrated studies of contaminants and reproduction (Jacobsson et al., 1993). Integrated monitoring with fish physiology and population development is running on eelpout in co-operation with the Swedish National Board of Fisheries. Eelpout specimens are collected from Vaderoarna in the Skagerrak since 1988 where analyses of various PCB congeners are available. Since 1995, eelpout is also collected from Holmoarna and Kvadofjarden and liver tissue is analysed for lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel, copper and zinc whereas muscle tissue is analysed for organochlorines. See also Swedish National Integrated Fish Monitoring of Eelpout, Viviparous Blenny (1994-).

Anders Bignert (2008) Comments Concerning the National Swedish Contaminant Monitoring Programme in Marine Biota.,

Geological Survey of Sweden
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Uppsala

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Sweden