Harmful substances and changes in the living environments of fish

- ecotoxicologic research and environmental toxicants

The effects of toxic substances and changing living environments on fish and fish reproduction are being investigated in this programme. The risks that the accumulation of toxicants in fish creates for consumers and for fisheries are also being evaluated.

Information about the effects of toxic substances and changes in the water environment on fish is needed for decision-making in fisheries and the management of fishing waters. Knowledge of concentrations of environmental toxicants and other harmful substances in fish is needed when comparing the contamination levels of Finnish fish with the contamination limits of the European Union and other such limit values. Environmental toxicants are compounds and substances that are toxic, persistent and accumulate in living organisms. Dioxins, PCBs, organotin compounds and mercury are examples of such environmental toxicants.

The aim of the programme is to study concentrations of toxic substances in fish and in the food web in order to secure fisheries activity and the use of fish as food, and to estimate the damages to fisheries and the risks for consumers. One other goal is to study the effects of harmful substances and environmental changes on the economically important reared and wild fish in the Baltic Sea and inland waters and on their reproduction.

In addition to the research, the FGFRI is taking part in international cooperation, such as the AMAP national working group and the ICES working group studying effects of toxic substances and the related research methodology (WGBEC).

Scientist in charge of project

Pekka J. Vuorinen
Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute
P.O. Box 2
FI-00791 Helsinki
Finland
Street address:Viikinkaari 4
Phone +358 295 327 277
Gsm +358 40 732 7357
Fax +358 205 751 201
e-mail: firstname.lastname@rktl.fi

Other scientists: Martti Rask, Marja Keinänen, Antti Lappalainen, Kari Ruohonen, Folke Halling, Erkki Ikonen, Raimo Parmanne

Duration: 2009-2011

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