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In this study, element levels (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Al, V, As, Ba, Sr, K, Pb) in the liver, gill, muscle, and stomach tissues of Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) caught from Mersin Bay in 2018 were determined, and the first report on the elemental composition of M. mola from the Mediterranean sea presented. Spectrophotometric methods were used in the determination of tissue element levels. Metal analysis of the tissues was performed on the ICP-MS device. The reference material IAEA-436 was used to follow the quality of the analytical process. Metal accumulation in M. mola tissues was determined as K> Fe> Zn>Sr> Cu> As> Al> V>Mn> Ni> Ba> Cr>Pb> Co. A statistical difference was found between tissues in terms of metal levels. It was determined that Fe and Cu were higher in the liver, Mn, Zn, Sr in gill, Al, Pb, Cr in muscle tissue. There were no statistical differences between the levels of As, V, and Ba detected in gill and muscle tissues. The K levels were similar in all tissues except the liver.

The interaction manner of Prunus mahaleb L. (P. mahaleb) seed oil (MSO) and fluconazole (FLC: antimycotic) combinations (MSO*FLC) against C. albicans and C. parapsilosis were evaluated using the microdilution technique. The most representative compounds of mahaleb oil were found to be conjugated linolenic acid (34.39%), oleic acid (31.76%), and linoleic acid (25.54%) by GC-MS. In antimicrobial activity study, P. mahaleb had an inhibition zone (IZ) of C. albicans and C. parapsilosis with 6.89 mm and 11.39 mm and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) with 35.3 µgmL-1 and 23.9 µgmL-1, respectively. The strongest indifferent effect was observed as 57.14% for C. albicans and 100% for C. parapsilosis in fluconazole-mahaleb oil combinations. An increase in DNA and protein leakage was observed when yeast was exposed to the FA. The destruction on the cell surface was visualized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis.

A group of schools of striped eel catfish Plotosus lineatus (Thunberg, 1787) was photographed during scuba diving at depths of 10 m and 17 m on 11 July 2022 and on 24 September 2022 from Kızkalesi and Boğsak regions in the Mersin Bay of the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. With the present study, P. lineatus is extending its distribution to the western Mediterranean coastal waters after its first occurrence in 2016 in the İskenderun Bay of Turkish Marine waters.

Total fat and fatty acid levels of Ulva linza (Linnaeus 1753), Enteromorpha flexuosa (Agardh, 1883), and Taonia atomaria (Agardh, 1848) collected from Viransehir, Taskiran, and Karaduvar coasts were determined. The total oil level of the samples was found to be 1.31-1.91%, 1.23%, 7.78% for U. linza, E. flexuosa and T. atomaria, respectively. The dominant saturated fatty acids are palmitic acid and stearic acid. The highest level of palmitic acid (32.27%) was found in E. flexuosa in Viransehir beach. The highest level of stearic acid was found on the coast of Viransehir (7.20%), U. linza. The highest level of ΣSFA was found in the U. linza species on Taskiran coast (37.89%), and the lowest level was determined in the T. atomaria species on the Taskiran coast (18.13%). It is oleic acid that has a high level of monounsaturated fatty acids. The highest level of this fatty acid (10.35%) was found in E. flexuosa species in Viransehir beach. The highest level of ΣMUFA was found in the Viransehir coast (16.67%) and the lowest level (11.39%) in the U. linza on the Viransehir beach. The highest level of linolelaidic acid in polyunsaturated fatty acids was found in E. flexuosa in Viransehir beach (3.34%). The highest level of linoleic acid (4.85%) was found in U. linza on the coast of Viransehir. The highest level of ΣPUFA was found in T. atomaria on the Taskiran coast (16.56%), and the lowest level (7.03%) was found in U. linza.

Cartilaginous fish species have ecological and economic importance, and ecotoxicological studies on these species are quite insufficient. In this study, Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Pb, Cd, and Sr levels were determined in muscle, liver, gill, kidney, spleen, stomach, and gonad tissues of Alopias superciliosus (Female, 240 cm TL) caught from Mersin Bay. Tissue metal analysis was determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The SPSS package program was used for statistical analysis and the Duncan test was applied. A statistical difference was found among the tissues in terms of the metals. Fe was determined the highest level in all tissues (pGill>Spleen>Gonad>Kidney>Stomach>Muscle. Zn was detected at higher levels in the liver and stomach, and As in other tissues after Fe. Al has the highest level after Zn and As and was mostly found in the gills. The tissue Cu and Zn levels were found in the same order from highest to lowest as Liver>Gonad>Kidney>Spleen≥ Stomach>Gill>Muscle. Sr was higher in the stomach, gonad, and kidney than the other tissues. Cd levels were found in higher than Pb levels in the examined tissues. Liver Cd level was determined as 57.37 µg g-1 dw. Except for the liver, Mn was found at a low level after Cr in the examined tissues. The distinction between the tissue levels of the investigated elements has changed depending on the functional differences between the tissues and metal metabolisms.

Remoras attach to sharks, big fish, and sea turtles and continue their lives with these creatures. Kapızlı and Tekeli beaches are located near Göksu Delta and Anamur nesting areas of Caretta caretta. In this study, two Remora individuals were caught with a fishing rod in July, when the ovulation was most intense. The smaller remora individual (33 cm) was caught from the coast of Tekeli with the chicken breast at a depth of 2.5 m, and the larger one (66 cm) with bread at a depth of 1.5 m from Kapızlı beach on 24.07.2020. The two Remora individuals caught were probably attached to the sea turtles. However, probably due to sea turtles going to the beach to lay eggs, Remoras started to free-swimming, and they were caught with the fishing line since they could not be fed. The present study reported that the first occurrence of Remora specimens is probably attached to turtles for Turkey's northeastern Mediterranean coast. Besides, this study is provided some morphometric and meristic data on this species and discussed a probable host of these specimens.

The length-weight relationships (LWRs) of fish are helpful in fisheries science. A total of 504 yellowspotted puffer (Torquigener flavimaculosus) specimens (257 female and 247 male) were caught from the Yumurtalık coast of Turkey (Eastern Mediterranean Sea) between 2018 and 2019 by using a trammel net set with a depth range between 5 and 42 m. The sex ratio was found 1:1.08 for males and females, respectively. The length-weight relationship was described for combined both sexes by the following formula W = 0.00130×L3.094 (r2 = 0.918) with a positive allometric growth. Fulton condition factor (CF) was calculated as 1.713 ± 0.145 for combined sexes. This study presents the first results available for the length-weight relationships and condition factor of T. flavimaculosus according to both sexes in the Yumurtalık coast of Turkey.

The aim of this study was to determine the preferences of students attending Mersin University's Ciftlikkoy and Yenisehir campuses for seafood consumption preference and to what extent these preferences are related to demographic characteristics such as gender, age, income level and type of program they study. Data were obtained by random sampling method in April, May and June of 2018 on a questionnaire form based on face-to-face interviews with 550 students from different programs. Of the 550 students surveyed, 53.8% were female, 46.2% were male, 70% were between 18-23 years, 23% were between 24-28 years, 4% were 33 and over, 3% were 29-33 age group. 74% of the students participating in the survey are undergraduate, 15% are associate degree, 9% graduate, 2% continue their doctoral education. The majority of the students stated that they live with 33% of their families. 32% stated that they stayed in dormitories, 26% in dormitories and 9% in other (their own) places. The results of the survey show that students prefer 46% poultry meat, 39% red meat, 8% fish, 1% other fish products and 6% do not prefer any type of meat. The majority of the students (80%) stated that they had knowledge about the importance of fish consumption and 16% did not have any knowledge. The most common anchor, 19% sea bass, 17% sea bream, 11% trout, 8% sardine, 5% red mullet, 3% silver, 2% mullet and 7% other fish, respectively it is consumed. While students consume 89% fresh seafood, they consume 4% canned food, 2% frozen, 1% salted and brine and 3% other forms. While 44% of the students prefer frying as a cooking method, 27% prefer grilling, 20% prefer oven, and 3% prefer steaming. According to the highest rate of fish consumption, respectively; 37% once a month, 20% once every fifteen days, 17% once or twice a year, 12% never consumed any fish, 3% once a week, 1% more than once a week.

Deep-sea sampling was conducted by a commercial trawl in the International Waters of Mersin Bay between 14 and 17 May 2018. The sampling depth ranged between 274 and 641 meters. A total of 13 trawling operations were performed, and each trawling operation lasted approximately 4 hours. During the sampling, six of the deep-sea cephalopods species were caught. All specimens were preserved in ethyl alcohol and were deposited in the Museum of the Systematic, Faculty of Fisheries, Mersin University (Catalog no: MEUCC-18-11-2- MEUCC-18-11-7). A total of two cuttlefish species belonging to the families of Sepiidae were identified. The others were represented by the families of Sepiolidae, Octopodidae, Bathypolypodidae, and Ommastrephidae.

In this study, five tripletails, Lobotes surinamensis, were reported for the first time in Mersin Bay (North-eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey). . Four juveniles were observed during diving expeditions in Yeşilovacık, Mersin Bay, on 04 November 2015 and 23 September 2016, while the fifth juvenile was recorded in Ayaş/Erdemli, Mersin Bay on 26 June 2018. This report is the first observation for this location and fills an essential gap in the species' range distribution. This study is also important as it is the first visual record of juveniles in this region. This finding will be helpful for both fisheries management and conservation efforts of this species.

A single male specimen of Nemichthys scolopaceus Richardson, 1848 was caught by a commercial deep trawler from Erdemli coast, Mersin Bay at a depth of about 595 m on 08 July 2019. After the capture, the fresh male specimen was identified, photographed, and measured. Morphometric and meristic characters of the specimen are given in the text. This paper first confirms the occurrence of a male specimen for N. scolopaceus from the Eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey.

Cheilodipterus novemstriatus (Rüppell, 1838), is native to the Indo-Pacific region. These species can be found mostly around the spines of Diadema setosum (Leske, 1778) between 0-40 m in depth. During a scientific diving survey in the Gulf of Iskenderun, a shoal of C. novemstriatus was sighted around a D. setosum. Some photographs of the fish and sea urchin were taken. This is the second study that reports these two species in a symbiotic relationship in Turkish waters. Also, these records show that the Mediterranean coasts are in a rapid tropicalization process, and the Lessepsian species quickly adapt to the Mediterranean.

An individual of Pempheris rhomboidea species was detected in a cage where sea bream was grown in the Mersin Dana Island region. P. rhomboidea is a species of the Pempheridae family distributed in the Indo-Pacific and West Atlantic and is a nocturnal species that inhabit coral reefs and rocky waters. It is known that different wild fish species enter into the aquaculture fish cages where marine fish are grown and grow together with the aquaculture species. There is no previous record of this species obtained from aquaculture cages. The total length and weight of the individual in the cage were 12.6 cm and 23.938 g. Considering the mesh size of the cage, it is estimated that this individual entered the cage in the juvenile period. At the end of the 11-month aquaculture period, it was determined that the individual reached a length close to the maximum length that the species can reach in its natural habitat. It was determined that some morphometric characteristics of the individuals harvested from the cage were similar to individuals caught in nature. The ability of the nocturnal species to grow in aquaculture cages indicates strong adaptability. Other wild species harvested from the cage at the same time were Oblada melanura, Scomber japonicus, Liza ramada, Diplodus vulgaris, Alosa fallax nilotica, Siganus rivulatus, Trachurus mediterranus, Lichia amia, Argyrosomus regius, Spicara smaris, Coryphaena hippurus. The proportional increase of wild species in aquaculture fish cages may cause economic losses for the companies in the future.

In this study, total lipid and fatty acid profiles of Barbus tauricus samples which were obtained from Melen River Basin during winter, spring, and summer seasons, were evaluated. Total lipid levels were determined 2.27%, 2.37%, and 4.34% in winter, spring, and summer, respectively. The study also determined that the carbon count of 30 fatty acids, composing total fat compositions of B. tauricus caught in Melen Basin, ranges among 12-24. The major fatty acids of B. tauricus are palmitic acid and stearic acid from SFA; palmitoleic acid, trans oleic acid, oleic acid and erucic acid from MUFA and linoleic acid, alfa linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid from PUFA. The study is the first one on lipid and fat profiles of B. tauricus, one of the species living in Duzce Melen Basin and having high economic importance, and aimed to investigate total lipid and fatty acid profiles according to the season., Bu çalışmada Melen Çayı Havzası'ndan kış, ilkbahar ve yaz mevsimlerinde alınan Barbus tauricus örneklerinin toplam lipid ve yağ asidi profilleri değerlendirilmiştir. Toplam lipid düzeyleri kış, ilkbahar ve yaz aylarında sırasıyla %2.27, %2.37 ve %4.34 olarak belirlenmiştir. Çalışmada ayrıca Melen Havzası’ndan avlanan B. tauricus’un toplam yağ kompozisyonunda bulunan 30 yağ asidinin karbon sayılarının 12-24 arasında değiştiği tespit edilmiştir. B. tauricus'un başlıca yağ asitleri, SFA için palmitik asit ve stearik asit; MUFA için palmitoleik asit, trans oleik asit, oleik asit ve erusik asit ve PUFA için linoleik asit, alfa linolenik asit, eikosapentaenoik asit ve dokosaheksaenoik asittir. Bu çalışma, Düzce Melen Havzası'nda yaşayan ve ekonomik önemi yüksek türlerden B. tauricus'un lipid ve yağ profilleri üzerine yapılan ilk çalışma olup, toplam lipid ve yağ asidi profillerini mevsimlere göre araştırmayı amaçlamaktadır.

The determination of heavy metal level (aluminium, iron, zinc, arsenic strontium) in surface water, sediment, and biota in Iskenderun Bay, polluted site, and Mersin Bay, unpolluted site, in 2018–2019 seasonally were aimed. The muscle and liver (viscera for shrimp) tissue of three fish (Saurida lessepsianus, Nemipterus randalli, Mullus barbatus) and an invertebrate (Penaus semisulcatus) species, which have different habitats and diet, were used to detection of biota metal level. Sediment samples were analyzed in four different particle sizes which were Fe > As>Al > Zn and Sr > Fe > As>Zn > Al respectively. (p Al > Sr > Zn > As in both sampling sites. The sediment Zn levels were a negative relationships between biota, particle size, sampling sites and season (p As> Zn > Sr > Al and As≥ Fe > Zn > Sr > Al, while the liver metal level sampled from polluted and unpolluted sites were Fe > Zn > As>Al > Sr and Fe > Zn > As>Sr > Al, respectively. There were significant of metals between species and tissues (p 0.05). Iron accumulated in the liver more than the muscle tissue while arsenic accumulated in the muscle more than the liver tissues due to the functional difference of tissues (p

Lantern sharks are small shark species that can be seen at depths between 70 and 2000 meters. Due to their luminescent characteristics, they have been called “Lantern shark”. In total eleven specimens of the velvet belly lantern shark, Etmopterus spinax (Linnaeus, 1758), were caught in the deep seas of Northern Cyprus by using a bottom trawl. Sampling was carried out using 13 trawling operations. The collected samples were placed in 4% formalin and stored at the Museum of the Systematic, Faculty of Fisheries, Mersin University, (catalogue number: MEUFC-18-11-082). As a sampling area, the depths between 274 and 641 m were selected. Other cartilaginous fish caught during sampling except E. spinax were Galeus melastomus (1 individual), Squalus acanthias (4 individuals), Scyliorhinus canicula (85 individuals). E. spinax made up 10.89% of all cartilaginous fishes which were caught. Species identification for all fishes caught is made with the help of morphological features.

A single specimen of the whiskered sole Monochirus hispidus (Rafinesque, 1814) was caught at a depth of 24 m from Tasucu, Mersin Bay (North-eastern Mediterranean, Turkey) in the winter season on February 2019. The present paper reports the first occurrence and is the confirmation of the whiskered sole M. hispidus from Mersin Bay, Turkey (North-eastern Mediterranean Sea). Since it was recorded only once in the last twenty-six years this species could be considered as exceptionally rare in the easternmost area of the Mediterranean Sea, Turkey.

Sharks are one of the most threatened groups of marine animals because of high exploitation rates coupled with low resilience to fishing pressure. We provide information on the current status of the young sharks caught in fishing nets in Iskenderun and Mersin Bays in the eastern Mediterranean, based on fishery-dependent surveys conducted between 2010 and 2021. Sharks were found in bycatches in trawling nets, trammel nets, bottom longlines and fishing lines. Incidental captures of young-of-the-year or juvenile specimens (n=269) included 15 species and the data indicate that İskenderun and Mersin Bays may serve as a nursery ground for the new-born and young individuals especially for the Blackmouth Catshark (Galeus melastomus), the Lesser Spotted Dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula), and the Velvet Belly (Etmopterus spinax). If necessary measures are taken, bycatch can be reduced to a certain limit, or even eliminated for shark species in the Mediterranean Sea.

Two specimens of slender sunfish R. laevis were recorded from two locations in İskenderun Bay at depths between 0 and 24 m. The first specimen, a female, was collected via purse seine net during a benthic survey carried out in Iskenderun coast on April 2016, and the other specimen, a male, was caught at the sea surface by gill net from the Payas coast on May 2018. The fishes were 565 mm and 375 mm in total length (TL) and 4450 g and 1750 g total weight (TW), respectively. Morphometric measurements and meristic counts of the fishes are detailed and presented in this paper. This is the first substantiated confirmation of Ranzania laevis from the Northeastern Mediterranean Sea. © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Pathogenic microorganisms have been the primary cause of foodborne disease and food poisoning throughout the world for years. The use of natural antimicrobial agents in food coating has been effective in regulating the adverse effects of pathogens in food. Increasing antimicrobial efficacy in these coatings is one of the current issues of the food industry. In the present study, the antimicrobial properties of Enteromorpha sp., which is a marine algae, and gelatin film solution incorporated with Enteromorpha sp. methanol extract have been investigated. The contents of Enteromorpha sp. methanol extract were determined by Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GCMS). The most important components in the extract were methyl palmitoleate, neophytadiene, phytol, methyl linolenate and methyl stearate. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC; the lowest concentration of test material which results in 99.9% inhibition of growth) of Enteromorpha sp. on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans were found to be between 10.79 mg/mL and 26.86 mg/mL by spectrophotometric microdilution technique. The antimicrobial effect of gelatin- Enteromorpha sp. methanolic extract film solution against the same pathogens was determined by disc diffusion method. The inhibition zone of gelatin- Enteromorpha sp. film solution was reported between 0.1 and 5.1 mm against pathogens. After a 24-h incubation, the effectiveness of the film solution was lower (1.3 mm) when compared to the extract on E. coli (5.1 mm). As a result, this study clearly showed that Enteromorpha sp. could be used as antimicrobial food coating agent, especially, in E. coli struggle.

Rabbitfish (Chimaera monstrosa, Linnaeus 1758), which is a deep-sea holocephalan mostly seen between 200-1000 m in depth. The specimen of C. monstrosa was caught in the deep-seas of Northern Cyprus by a commercial bottom trawler from Turkey. The depth of sampling area is between 456 and 690 m. Species description fulfilled with the help of morphological features and metric measurements. The specimen was preserved in 4% formaldehyde and deposited in the Museum of the Systematic, Faculty of Fisheries, Mersin University, (Catalogue number: MEUFC-19-11-103).

Total lipids, fatty acid composition of Squalius pursakensis fillet samples captured from Melen River Basin during winter, spring and summer seasons were evaluated. Total lipid levels were as 1.80% in winter, 2.56% in spring and 5.17% in summer. The composition of fatty acids showed that total polyunsaturated fatty acids (32.05-38.90%) were highest, followed by monounsaturated (29.85-35.40%) and saturated (27.10-31.23%). The fatty acid composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in fillets of S. pursakensis shows a high content n3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA C20:5n3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA C22:6n3) with maximum rates of 6.70% and 16.33%, respectively (p

In this study, it was aimed to present the morphometric and meristic data of Carcharhinus brevipinna (Müller & Henle, 1839) which caught from Mersin Bay in February 2019. The total length of this shark specimen, which caught from a depth of 20 m, is 115 cm, and its weight is 11.5 kg. Morphometric measurements of the individual made, its photographs were taken and given the catalog number (MEUFC-19-11-104) and recorded in the Museum of the Systematic, Faculty of Fisheries, Mersin University.

In this study, seasonal changes in the lipid and fatty acid profiles of S. lessepsianus caught from the Mersin Bay were investigated. The total lipid levels of S. lessepsianus were found to be 2.94%, 7.19%, 2.45%, 0.83%, in spring, summer, autumn and winter season, respectively. Major fatty acids in S. lessepsianus were palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, palmitoleic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in all seasons. The highest values of palmitic, palmitoleic and EPA were determined as 22.97%, 3.80% and 4.22% in spring, respectively. The highest values of stearic and oleic acid were determined as 15.93% and 7.84% in autumn, respectively. The highest value of DHA were also determined as 31.91% in winter season. The EPA level from polyunsaturated fatty acids was found in the range of 2.54-4.22% (23.09-195.62 mg/100g). The highest level of DHA were observed in the winter season and its levels changed in the range of 19.83-31.81% and was calculated as 201.29-1301.73 mg/100g. In addition, the highest level of the Σn3, Σn6, and Σn9 were calculated in the summer season as 1516.39, 114.88, 399.77 mg/100g, respectively. This report showed that fat and fatty acid profiles of S. lessepsianus are quite influenced by seasonal factors.

Eight crab species (Eriphia verrucosa, Maja squinado, Calappa granulata, Charybdis (Goniohellenus) longicollis, Callinectes sapidus, Atergatis roseus, Portunus segnis, Maja crispata) were sampled from Mersin Bay (Northeastern Mediterranean) between September 2017 and April 2018. Three species belong to the family of Portunidae while two Maja species represent Majidae. The other crabs represent the families of Calappidae, Xanthidae, and Eriphidae. All specimens were preserved in ethanol and were deposited in the Museum of the Systematic, Faculty of Fisheries, Mersin University (catalogue number:MEUDC-17-12-002 - MEUDC-18-12-009). Previous records of these crabs in the Mediterranean Sea were determined as their distributions were compared. All crab samples in the study are distributed in the Northeastern Mediterranean Sea commonly.&nbsp

Aims: In this study, an individual of H. griseus was caught from the Mersin Bay and this ichthyologic note presents a new female record of H. griseus for Mersin Bay, Mediterranean coast of Turkey. This study aims to contribute to the chronological records of the species in the Mediterranean Sea. Place and Duration of Study: Yeşilovacık bay is a small bay in the west of Mersin Bay. Yeşilovacık bay which lies at approximately 36°07’n latitude, 33°37’e, longitude and about 143 km Western of in Mersin province, Turkey. Sample: On 19 March 2018 blunthose sixgill shark specimen was measured and then deposited in the Museum of the Systematic, Faculty of Fisheries, University of Mersin. Methodology: A female specimen of H. griseus with a total length (TL) of 350 cm (400 kg) was captured by a commercial trawl at a depth around of 280 m of the Yeşilovacık Bay (Northeastern Mediterranean Sea), Turkey. Total length was measured to the nearest 1 mm and the weight of the specimen was determined to the nearest kilogram. Results: Measurements of the specimen are presented and compared with the previous records of H. griseus in the Eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey (Iskenderun Bay), which are given in Table. The identification was carried out according to the previous report. Conclusion: To date specific conservation measures are not known for this species for the Northeastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Thus, the effect of coastal fishery for sharks should be regularly monitored and protection measures should be taken in this region in order for this shark species to continue their conservation for the next generation.

PubMedID: 30529858 Tetrodotoxin (TTX) levels in Lagocephalus sceleratus (Silverstripe blaasop), Lagocephalus spadiceus (Half-smooth golden pufferfish) and Lagocephalus suezensis (Suez puffer) caught in Mersin Bay in the Northeastern Mediterranean Sea were analysed using Q-TOF LC/MS. Pufferfish were caught using trawl fishing, longlining and fishing line from December 2015 to October 2016. The TTX changes in the gonads, livers, intestines, skins and muscle tissues were evaluated according to sex and season. TTX levels for L. sceleratus and L. suezensis for all tissues were in the range of 0.69–35.6 µg/g and 0.67–3.09 µg/g, respectively. The highest TTX levels were observed in the gonads of female L. sceleratus caught in the autumn, and in the skin of L. suezensis caught in the spring but no quantifiable levels of TTX were found for L. spadiceus. In conclusion, L. sceleratus and L. suezensis species caught in the North-Eastern Mediterranean are toxic, and their consumption is unsafe. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd TOVAG-115O679 This research was financially supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK); TOVAG-115O679 . We would like to thank graphic designer Yeter MERCAN for the support for the preparation of the Graphical Abstract.