Summary

Description

From September 2226, 1990, 20 gafftopsail catfish Bagre marinus and 3 other fish species n4 were collected from marine waters adjacent to Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge NWR, Florida. The fish were collected for mercury analysis of muscle tissue. Ninetyfive percent of the gafftopsail catfish n 19 had mercury levels that exceeded the Florida limitedconsumption advisory of 0.5 parts per million ppm, wet weight. Twentyfive percent n 5 exceeded Floridas noconsumption advisory of 1.5 ppm. Two other species, crevalle jack Caranx hippos n 2 and Atlantic croaker Micropogonias undulatus n 1, also had mercury concentrations exceeding the 0.5 ppm advisory. One black drum Pogonias cromis had a mercury concentration below advisory levels. Evaluation of mercuryweight and mercurylength relationships of the gafftopsail catfish did not provide mechanisms by which recreational fishermen could selectively retain individual fish that are low in mercury. The collection area between Hobe Sound and Peck Lake may be a marine environment that encourages bioconcentration of mercury in some marine fishes. Fish and wildlife trust resources may be at some risk when utilizing the food chain resources of these waters. Additional habitat and biota contaminant work is recommended.