TOPS-Marine Science Experience, Occidental College
Much of the research on contaminant
accumulation in fish in the Puget Sound has focused on English sole. These
demersal fish are moderately long-lived 1, have a close
association with the bottom sediments, consume benthic invertebrates,
and have relatively restricted movements associated with seasonal migration
for reproduction. These characteristics suggest that their probability
of exposure to persistent bioaccumulative toxins is moderately high and
that they will reflect regional spatial patterns of contamination in bottom
sediments. Also, because they are purchased from the commercial fishery
and are captured and consumed by some anglers, English sole represent
a food-web pathway through which contaminants can move from sediments
to humans.
The Fish Component has monitored the presence and severity of toxic
contaminants in this species annually from 1989 through 1999 and began
bi-annual monitoring in 2001. Click for sampling
locations.
Age of the oldest English sole collected by the Fish Component was estimated at 21 years.
