Updated Data on Mercury and DDE in Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) in Relation to Consumption Advisories for the Saint John River, New Brunswick, Canada

Samuel N. Andrews^1,*, David H. Roth², Karen A. Kidd⁵, Scott A. Pavey⁶, Bethany Reinhart⁷, Brian Hayden¹, Michael J. Dadswell⁸, Tommi Linnansaari^1,3,4, and R. Allen Curry^1,3,4

¹Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Post office Box 4400, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada. ²Department of Forestry, University of New Brunswick, Post office Box 4400, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada. ³Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, University of New Brunswick, Post office Box 4400, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada. ⁴Canadian Rivers Institute, University of New Brunswick, Post office Box 4400, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada. ⁵Department of Biology and School of Earth, Environment and Society, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada. ⁶Department of Biological Sciences, Canadian Rivers Institute, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB E2L 4L5, Canada. ⁷Atlantic Coastal Action Program Saint John, 139 Prince Edward Street, Suite 323, Saint John, NB E2L 3S3, Canada. ⁸Acadia University, Department of Biology, 33 Westwood Avenue, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, B4P 2R6, Canada. *Corresponding author.

Northeastern Naturalist, Volume 30, Issue 2 (2023): 226–243

Abstract
The Morone saxatilis (Striped Bass) population in Saint John River (SJR), NB, Canada, collapsed in the 1970s concurrent with dam construction, overfishing, and chemical pollution that may have impeded reproduction. To assess whether a chemical threat to Striped Bass or a health threat to fish consumers persists, we examined DDT and total mercury (THg) levels from 29 Striped Bass captured in the SJR including 16 genomically typed as SJR natives. DDT and DDD in female gonads were below detectable levels, and DDE averaged 0.08 ± 0.09 mg/kg wet weight (ww) but was considered too low to threaten reproduction. Total mercury in muscle and liver varied from 0.68 to 2.10 mg/kg and 0.35 to 3.27 mg/kg ww, respectively and exceeded Health Canada guidelines in all samples. We suggest regulators should update advisories for consumption including actively informing the public of the risk.

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