Benefits and risks of the fish consumption should be assessed to balance the ingestion of healthy omega-3 fatty acids and adverse chemicals. Persistent organic pollutants-POPs (organochlorine ...pesticides-OCPs and polychlorinated biphenyls-PCB), macro- and micro-elements and fatty acid contents were determined in six fish species from the Adriatic Sea to assess health risks for consumers (worst-case scenario, diseases development risks and benefit-risk). 16 element, 24 POPs and 14 fatty acid contents were determined in six pelagic species which can be used in human diet. Element concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), POPs by high-resolution gas chromatography and fatty acid content by gas–liquid chromatography. Diet based on chub mackerel and round sardinella showed lower daily intake (DI) of POPs and highest DI of essential omega-3 fatty acids than other investigated species. Lower ingestion of toxic elements can be observed by consuming anchovy and round sardinella. Based on POP concentrations, there was not observed non-carcinogenic (HI) nor carcinogenic (CR) risks for consumers. Based on element concentrations, there was low HI (0.1 ≥ HI ≥ 1), while the maximum HIs and outlier values (horse mackerel and anchovy samples) implied the presence of HI (HI > 1). The most significant contributor to total non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks was inorganic arsenic (inorganic As). Acceptable CR for consumers was assessed, but maximum CR for consumers of horse mackerel and anchovy (CR ≥ 1 × 10–6) showed adverse effects on human health. There were low HIs for developing cardiovascular, nervous, and reproductive diseases, and maximum HIs were higher than 1. Acceptable (1 × 10−4≥CR ≥ 1 × 10−6) risks were observed for developing cancer of nervous system and reproductive organs. Among investigated fish samples, those with higher ƩBR (benefit-risks) and BR for arsenic (As) than median value have a higher risk than benefits in the human diet.
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•Consumers' risk and benefits were assessed based on chemicals and omega-3 in fishes.•POPs and omega-3 daily intake-DI indicated c. mackerel and r. sardinella as the most safe.•DI of toxic elements were the lowest by consuming anchovy and round sardinella.•Horse mackerel and chub mackerel had the lowest total risk.•Samples with BR for As higher than median have more risk than benefit for consumers.
Fatty acids (FAs) composition, 24 persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and 16 trace elements were examined in small pelagic fish (sardine, anchovy, round sardinella, chub and horse mackerels) caught ...by a fishing fleet for more than three years in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Five Unmix source profiles associated with both sources, such as overlapping diet, including low-niche marine organisms and inputs from the surrounding environmental compartments were resolved. Inorganic compounds were notably more abundant in fish tissue than organochlorine xenobiotics. Comparison with the values of toxicological parameters revealed that the examined fish species are safe for human consumption, while the content of FAs emphasized the studied species as a valuable source of nutrients. A significant linear correlation was not observed between the 18 FAs and lipophilic organochlorines. Based on the obtained database, future assessments of the quality of edible fish species and the aquatic environment of the eastern Mediterranean Sea, which is known as an important fishing ground, could be significantly improved.
•Macro- and micro-elements were more abundant in studied fish than OCPs and PCBs.•No significant linear correlation were recorded between 18 fatty acids and POPs.•The pollutant levels in the fish reflect low contamination of the Mediterranean Sea.•Different fish species should be consumed to gain a sufficient supply of EPA and DHA.
Noble pen shell (
Pinna nobilis
) is an endemic species and the largest known bivalve in the Mediterranean Sea. By filtering large amounts of water, they maintain a high percentage of organic matter, ...hence playing an important role in the marine ecosystem. The ecological community of pen shells is impressive, and there are numerous microorganisms present in its soft tissues. Since this species is highly endangered due to recently described mass mortalities throughout the Mediterranean, this study was aimed at finding out more about its microbiome. In this study, we identified the predominant bacterial populations of specimens collected at three separate locations along the Eastern Adriatic coast. The predominant bacteria were isolated and 16S rRNA sequencing was performed to identify eight different bacterial genera:
Aestuariibacter
sp.,
Aliivibrio
sp.,
Alteromonas
sp.,
Marinobacter
sp.,
Pseudoalteromonas
sp.,
Rubritalea
sp.,
Thalassospira
sp. and the
Vibrio splendidus
clade. The identified genera are ubiquitous in the marine environment and have previously been described as both beneficial symbionts and potential pathogens in other molluscs. There was a clear difference in the predominant bacterial populations between northern and southern sampling sites, which could be linked to water temperature. These findings indicate the need for expanded sampling over a longer time period, since more exhaustive research would provide information vital to the conservation of this critically endangered species.
This review summarises our two decades of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) monitoring in different marine organisms along the eastern Adriatic Sea. The aim was to gain an insight into the trends of PCB ...distribution in order to evaluate the effectiveness of past and current legislation and suggest further action. Here we mainly focus on PCB levels in wild and farmed Mediterranean mussels, wild and farmed bluefin tuna, loggerhead sea turtles, common bottlenose dolphins, and small pelagic fish. The use of artificial intelligence and advanced statistics enabled an insight into the influence of various variables on the uptake of PCBs in the investigated organisms as well as into their mutual dependence. Our findings suggest that PCBs in small pelagic fish and mussels reflect global pollution and that high levels in dolphins and wild tuna tissues raise particular concern, as they confirm their biomagnification up the food chain. Therefore, the ongoing PCB monitoring should focus on predatory species in particular to help us better understand PCB contamination in marine ecosystems in our efforts to protect the environment and human health.
The haematophagic isopod parasite Ceratothoa oestroides (Risso, 1816) causes significant production losses in the commercial aquaculture of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L. 1758). These are often ...expressed as reduced fish growth and lower survival rates of sea bass fingerlings <20 g mass. Deltamethrin is a synthetic pyrethrin with demonstrable positive results in the control of C. oestroides. The aim of this study was to determine its efficacy in the control of C. oestroides in commercial production conditions. The experiment was carried out at a commercial sea bass farm and in two net cages of 16 m diameter stocked with 200,000 sea bass fingerlings of the same origin and weight. After 5 months culture, a deltamethrin treatment was performed in one cage, while the other cage served as a non-treated control. The average sea bass mass during the antiparasitic bath was 19.70 ± 0.47 g and 18.48 ± 0.50 g (mean ± SEM) for the treated and the control cages, respectively. Two months after the treatment, visual examination of the entire population was carried out. The results revealed that the number of C. oestroides in the treated cage was significantly lower (P < .01) compared to those in the control cage. Also, the C. oestroides were smaller in length in the treated group compared to the control cage. No sexually mature females were found in the treated group whereas in the control cage 21.3% of the C. oestroides were sexually mature, containing average 39.7 pulli larvae. The monthly mortality rate during this study was <0.5%, but mortality in the treated cage, after treatment in June, was lower than in the control cage. The results indicate that the deltamethrin treatment was successful in sea bass infected with C. oestroides. After two months, however, a new generation of immature C. oestroides appeared. These results show that sea bass weighing over 20 g can be reinfected, but the absence of sexually mature females points to the importance of this treatment to reduce the dynamics of C. oestroides population on a farm site. Despite good antiparasitic results, there is a further need to improve fish farming in the Mediterranean through the introduction of changes in husbandry practices with a purpose of prevention of parasitic horizontal transmission.
•Reinfestation of C. oestroides in sea bass is possible in fish with body mass > 20 g.•There was no C. oestroides resistance on deltamethrin.•The absence of sexually mature C. oestroides females in treated fish points the importance of this treatment.
High-risk contaminants, OCPs and PCBs, were investigated in marine fish from the Adriatic Sea, from which retail fish in Croatia is commonly sourced. The pollutant levels in sardine, horse and chub ...mackerel, anchovy and round sardinella were analysed based on a two-year sampling and the joint use of generally accepted statistics and advanced clustering methods − self-organizing maps (SOM) and decision tree analysis (DT). Both the SOM and DT suggested fish mass and length rather than fat along with α-HCH, p,p′-DDT, PCB-74 and PCB-189 to cause variable pollutant uptake among species. Main distinctions of sardines occur in coastal and off coast regions rather than in a particular fishing zone and they are associated with both fish characteristics, levels of γ-HCH and PCBs: −60, −105, −150, −170, and −189. The results, mutually compatible or in agreement, could be useful for the design and implementation of the abatement strategies of fish pollution.
•OCPs and PCBs were determined in sardines, horse and chub mackerel, and anchovy.•Advanced clustering (SOM and DT) was applied for the POP analyses in edible fishes.•Fish mass and length rather than fat cause changeable uptake of POPs among species.•Off coast and coastal sardines differ due to the PCB-60, −105, −150, −170, and −189 levels.
The objective of this review is to present current status of meagre aquaculture in Croatia. Meagre
(Asso, 1801) is a fast growing migratory fish species which used to be widespread along the coast of ...the Adriatic Sea. Today, it is very rare in fisheries catches and is considered highly endangered. Recently, meagre has become an increasingly important species in the Mediterranean aquaculture. In Croatia, meagre is a relatively new cultured species whose farming started after the year 2000. Since the European Commission identified species diversification as a top priority in the framework of the 2020 strategies for Aquaculture, and with recent studies revealing that meagre adapt easily to captivity and maintain a rapid growth rate, this species became an interesting candidate for Croatian as well as Mediterranean aquaculture.
Small pelagic fish with their significant biomass are connecting plankton production and higher trophic levels in marine ecosystems. The aim of this paper was to analyse feeding habits of sardine
...Sardina pilchardus
(Walbaum, 1792), regarding the season and the spatial area, but also considering trophodynamics of other co-occurring small pelagic fish: anchovy
Engraulis encrasicolus
(Linnaeus, 1758), round sardinella
Sardinella aurita
(Valenciennes, 1847), chub mackerel
Scomber japonicus
(Houttuyn, 1782) and horse mackerel
Trachurus trachurus
(Linnaeus, 1758) in the eastern Adriatic Sea. Sardine revealed copepods (average contribution 30%), decapod larvae (18%), mysids (15%) and copepod eggs (9%) as their main source of energy. Seasonal oscillations of the sardine fullness index were determined, with highest values in the autumn and spring (%Jr = 0.71 and 0.66, respectively). Spatial analysis showed no significant difference in the diet of fish caught in offshore and coastal waters (ANOSIM, Global
r
= 0.034;
p
> 0.05). The ANOSIM test showed a significant difference in prey composition among five investigated species (Global
r
= 0.081,
p
< 0.05). The greatest difference in diet was observed between sardine and chub mackerel, as well as between sardine and horse mackerel. While copepods dominated in the sardine, anchovy and round sardinella stomach, horse mackerel and chub mackerel showed selectivity for larger prey as euphausiids, which dominated in terms of numbers, while the most frequent prey were decapod larvae. However, calanoid copepods, fish larvae, decapod larvae, decapod larvae–megalopa stage, copepod eggs, amphipods and isopods were present in the diet of all small pelagic fish. Interspecies diet overlap, besides being significant for marine food web modelling, is particularly important for future fishery management, since investigations in this field are still mostly based on a single-species diet approach.
•There was no mature female parasite found after 865. 47 °DD, which imply that maturity of C. oestrodes requires more °DD.•Female parasite C. oestroides uses some way of communication to attract the ...pulli II i.e., the future male parasite.•In aquaculture health management communication between C. oestroides pairs could be used to lure parasites into traps.
The purpose of this in situ study was to determine the pattern of protandrous hermaphrodite Ceratothoa oestroides infestation in sea bass with respect to parasite sexual behaviour. Sea bass (N = 618) were divided into six net cages which presented three experimental groups. Group 1 represented infected fish, where female parasites were manually removed and male parasites were left in the buccal cavity of fish. Group 2 represented infected fish where both female and male parasites were removed, and group 3 represented uninfected fish (i.e., the control group). The duration of the experiment was 865.47 degree days (ºD), and average sea bass mortality rate was 11.97 %. No mature C. oestroides females were found at the end of the experiment. Fish in cages with removed female parasites (group 1) had a statistically higher number of parasites in pairs at the end of the experiment, compared to the group where all parasites - both males and females - were removed (group 2) and control group (group 3) (P < 0.005). Female parasites from group 1, being larger and older, had more success in mate finding. These results suggest that the female parasite uses some method of communication to attract the pulli II, i.e., the future male parasite, necessary for reproduction. Because there is a lack of parasite biology studies, especially in situ, our data on reproduction and mating behaviour of C. oestroides could help in the development of overall parasitic removal procedures and health management in aquaculture.
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