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Background: Descriptor 8 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) (Directive 2008/56/EC) addresses the good environmental status with regard to pollution of marine waters by chemical contaminants. Commission decision (EU) 2017/848 lays down the criteria and methodological standards on good environmental status of marine waters. Member States, in regional or subregional cooperation, shall establish lists of relevant contaminants beside those already covered by the Water Framework Directive (WFD). To provide information on emerging contaminants in marine biota, the German Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB) has compiled data of blue mussels and eelpouts from coastal sites in the North and Baltic Seas. Substances identified by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) as of emerging concern for the marine environment have been used as a starting point. Results and conclusions: The study presents data of 19 emerging flame retardants and degradation products, 40 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and three cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes (cVMS). Among the emerging flame retardants, only Dec 602 was detected in all samples of 2015. Dec 604, Cl10-antiDP, 1,5-DPMA, EH-TBB, PBEB, TBP-AE, BATE, BTBPE and HBBz were constantly < limit of quantification (LOQ). Time trends were barely detected. Legacy PBDE still dominates in most samples. PFAS concentrations were usually higher in samples from the North Sea sites compared to samples from the Baltic Sea. PFOS dominated in most samples. Increasing trends over time were detected for PFNA, PFDA and PFDoDA at the Baltic Sea site and for PFDA at one North Sea site. Concentrations of the cVMS D4, D5 and D6 were below the detection limit at the ESB sampling sites. Based on the results, it should be considered to include the emerging flame retardants DP and Dec 602 and the long-chain perfluoroalkyl substances PFNA, PFDA, PFUnDA and PFDoDA in a regular monitoring in the North and Baltic Seas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The full mitogenome of Bothrocara hollandi was determined by high-throughput sequencing (HTS) platform. The genome was 16,732 bp in length, which included 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, two ribosomal RNAs (12S and 16S), and a control region (D-Loop). The overall composition of G + C in the mitogenome was 45.90%, which was lower than A + T contents (54.10%). Except for COX1 (GTG), the other twelve protein-coding genes begin with typical start codon, ATG. The incomplete stop codon (TA − or T–) was identified in five genes, including COXI, COXII, COXIII, ND3, and ND4. The phylogenetic analysis with the currently reported mitogenome sequences showed that B. hollandi was most closely related to Lycodes tanakae, suggesting that additional mitogenome sequences in genus Bothrocara are required for its clear evolutional relationship.

Descriptor 9 (D9) of the European Union Marine Strategy Framework Directive refers to the compliance of contaminant levels in fish and other seafood of a defined marine region or subregion with human health threshold values. This requires georeferenced samples that are often difficult to obtain when relying on commercial fisheries or programs designed for monitoring human exposure. The present study examines whether georeferenced samples of blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) fillet of the German environmental specimen bank (ESB) can be used in this context. The suitability of the ESB samples, procedures, and analytical methods is evaluated with respect to D9 requirements. Based on ESB data for the D9 relevant contaminants Pb, Cd, Hg, ∑4 PAHs, PCDD/Fs, dioxin-like (dl)-PCBs, and indicator non-dl-PCBs and the potentially relevant substances TBT, PFOS, PBDE, and HBCDD, the Good Environmental Status for D9 is assessed at the ESB sites in the North and Baltic Seas. The overall evaluation indicates that ESB samples are suitable for D9 assessment with the limitation that only coastal areas of the North and Baltic Seas are covered. Over a period of up to 30 years, concentrations of the D9 relevant contaminants were well below the maximum levels allowed for human consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase our understanding of possible chemical impacts on coastal fish populations in the Baltic Sea, Kattegat and Skagerrak, the viviparous eelpout ( Zoarces viviparus ) was used as sentinel species in two major sampling campaigns (spring and autumn) in 16 different coastal sites. Condition factor (CF), liver somatic index (LSI), gonad somatic index (GSI) were measured and the activity of the hepatic enzymes ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), glutathione reductase GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT) and muscular activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were assessed. PAH metabolites in bile were also analyzed. The most notable finding in the data set was the low EROD activity in eelpouts collected at the relatively polluted region in Germany compared to the other regions, which could be due to an inhibition of the CYP1A-system or to adaptation to chronic exposure of pollutants in this area. Additionally, low AChE activity was noted in the German region in the autumn campaign and low AChE activity detected in the Danish region in the spring campaign. These differences suggest possible season-specific differences in the use and release of AChE-inhibiting chemicals in the Danish and German regions. Clustering of biomarkers on site level indicated a relationship between CF and GSI and suggested that sites with a high CF contained eelpout that put a larger effort into their larvae development. Clustering of the oxidative stress markers GR, GST and CAT on the individual level reflected a possible coordinated regulation of these enzymes. Overall, the results support the importance of taking into account general regional differences and seasonal variation in biomarker activity when monitoring and assessing the effects of pollution. Despite the expected seasonal variation for most of the measured endpoint, several markers (GSI, EROD and CF) vary similarly between all selected sites in both spring and autumn. This suggests that the differences between sites for these endpoints are independent of season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnant eelpout were exposed via the water to known endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) to clarify if EDCs could be causing the increased eelpout fry malformation frequencies observed in coastal areas receiving high anthropogenic input. The presence of a teratogenic window for estrogen-induced malformations was also investigated by starting the exposure at different times during eelpout pregnancy. Both 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) (17.8 ng/L) and pyrene (0.5 μg/L) significantly increased fry malformation frequency whereas 4- t- octylphenol (4- t -OP) up to 14.3 μg/L did not. Vitellogenin was significantly induced by EE2 (5.7 and 17.8 ng/L) but not by 4- t -OP and pyrene. A critical period for estrogen-induced fry malformations was identified and closed between 14 and 22 days post fertilization (dpf). Exposure to 17β-estradiol (E2) between 0 and 14 dpf caused severe malformations and severity increased the closer exposure start was to fertilization, whereas malformations were absent by exposure starting later than 14 dpf. Data on ovarian fluid volume and larval length supported the suggested teratogenic window. Larval mortality also increased when exposure started right after fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A broad biomarker approach was applied to study the effects of marine pollution along the Swedish west coast using the teleost eelpout ( Zoarces viviparus) as the sentinel species. Measurements were performed on different biological levels, from the molecular to the organismal, including measurements of messenger RNA (mRNA), proteins, cellular and tissue changes, and reproductive success. Results revealed that eelpout captured in Stenungsund had significantly higher hepatic ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity, high levels of both cytochrome P4501A and diablo homolog mRNA, and high prevalence of dead larvae and nuclear damage in erythrocytes. Eelpout collected in Göteborg harbor displayed extensive macrovesicular steatosis, whereby the majority of hepatocytes were affected throughout the liver, which could indicate an effect on lipid metabolism. Results also indicate that eelpouts collected at polluted sites might have an affected immune system, with lower mRNA expression of genes involved in the innate immune system and a higher number of lymphocytes. Biomarker assessment also was performed on livers dissected from unborn eelpout larvae collected from the ovary of the females. No significant differences were noted, which might indicate that the larvae to some extent are protected from effects of environmental pollutants. In conclusion, usage of the selected set of biological markers, covering responses from gene to organism, has demonstrated site-specific biomarker patterns that provided a broad and comprehensive picture of the impact of environmental stressors. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:1511-1523. © 2015 The Authors. Published by SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil spills occur commonly, and chemical compounds originating from oil spills are widespread in the aquatic environment. In order to monitor effects of a bunker oil spill on the aquatic environment, biomarker responses were measured in eelpout ( Zoarces viviparus) sampled along a gradient in Göteborg harbor where the oil spill occurred and at a reference site, 2 weeks after the oil spill. Eelpout were also exposed to the bunker oil in a laboratory study to validate field data. The results show that eelpout from the Göteborg harbor are influenced by contaminants, especially polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), also during 'normal' conditions. The bunker oil spill strongly enhanced the biomarker responses. Results show elevated ethoxyresorufin- O-deethylase (EROD) activities in all exposed sites, but, closest to the oil spill, the EROD activity was partly inhibited, possibly by PAHs. Elevated DNA adduct levels were also observed after the bunker oil spill. Chemical analyses of bile revealed high concentrations of PAH metabolites in the eelpout exposed to the oil, and the same PAH metabolite profile was evident both in eelpout sampled in the harbor and in the eelpout exposed to the bunker oil in the laboratory study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Elevated frequencies of abnormal embryos in female eelpout Zoarces viviparus have been demonstrated in Danish, Swedish and German monitoring programmes at certain geographic locations with high levels of anthropogenic input. Pollutants present in areas with high malformation frequencies were selected and tested in a controlled laboratory experiment for their potential to induce abnormalities among eelpout embryos upon injection into pregnant eelpout. Tributyltin, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, pyrene, nonylphenol, 2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromophenylether and heptadecafluorooctanesulfonic acid were tested, either individually or combined. Generally, the chemicals were transferred to eggs and/or embryos. Some of the exposures increased the proportion of broods with more than 10% abnormal or 5% malformed embryos, although the average percentages of abnormal development were not affected. Spinal, cranial and eye deformities were evident, similarly to what is seen in nature. Some of the exposures resulted in increased percentages of females with as well a low reproductive capacity as embryos with a low condition index. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The physiology and reproductive performance of eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) have been monitored along the Swedish coast for more than three decades. In this study, transcriptomic profiling was applied for the first time as an exploratory tool to search for new potential candidate biomarkers and to investigate possible stress responses in fish collected from a chronically polluted area. An oligonucleotide microarray with more than 15,000 sequences was used to assess differentially expressed hepatic mRNA levels in female eelpout collected from the contaminated area at Göteborg harbor compared to fish from a national reference site, Fjällbacka. Genes involved in apoptosis and DNA damage (e.g., SMAC/diablo homolog and DDIT4/DNA-damage-inducible protein transcript 4) had higher mRNA expression levels in eelpout from the harbor compared to the reference site, whereas mRNA expression of genes involved in the innate immune system (e.g., complement components and hepcidin) and protein transport/folding (e.g., signal recognition particle and protein disulfide-isomerase) were expressed at lower levels. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis revealed that genes involved biological processes associated with protein folding, immune responses and complement activation were differentially expressed in the harbor eelpout compared to the reference site. The differential mRNA expression of selected genes involved in apoptosis/DNA damage and in the innate immune system was verified by quantitative PCR, using the same fish in addition to eelpout captured four years later. Thus, our approach has identified new potential biomarkers of pollutant exposure and has generated hypotheses on disturbed physiological processes in eelpout. Despite a higher mRNA expression of genes related to apoptosis (e.g., diablo homolog) in eelpout captured in the harbor there were no significant differences in the number of TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells between sites. The mRNA level of genes involved in apoptosis/DNA damage and the status of the innate immune system in fish species captured in polluted environments should be studied in more detail to lay the groundwork for future biomonitoring studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The use of liver histopathology in various fish species as a biomarker in marine monitoring programmes to assess the biological effect of exposure to anthropogenic contaminants is well established. However, although the eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) has repeatedly been recommended as an appropriate bioindicator for monitoring purposes in the Baltic Sea, information on histopathological liver alterations of this species is scarce. In order to obtain an overview, a total of 1070 eelpout, collected in the period between spring 2001 and winter 2010 from 34 sampling sites distributed over large parts of the Baltic Sea, were histologically analyzed. Liver lesions were recorded and classified according to established liver lesion categories. A high prevalence of non-specific and early toxicopathic non-neoplastic hepatic lesions was recorded. In contrast, pre-neoplastic lesions were observed only in rare cases and neoplastic changes were absent. A comparison with published data on other fish species revealed that the observed alterations may indicate effects of environmental stressors including contaminants. The results of the present study, thus, support the application of eelpout liver histopathology in environmental monitoring. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Carbonyl reductase (CBR) is an enzyme involved in protection from oxidative stress. In rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), the hepatic mRNA abundance of the two isoforms (A and B) is increased after exposure to treated sewage effluents, as well as after exposure with β-naphthoflavone (β-NF) and the pro-oxidant paraquat. In this study, we show that the same chemicals similarly increase the single known hepatic CBR mRNA level and CBR catalytic activity in the coastal living eelpout (Zoarces viviparus). Hepatic CBR mRNA abundance and catalytic activity were also compared between eelpout collected at contaminated and reference sites on the Swedish west coast, but no differences were observed. In conclusion, CBR is a potential biomarker candidate for monitoring the exposure and effects of AhR agonists and/or pro-oxidants in the marine environment, but more research is needed to investigate temporal regulation as well as dose dependency for different chemicals. The mRNA and enzymatic assays presented in this study provide two additional tools for researchers interested in expanding their biomarker battery. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Environmental genotoxicity was investigated at 82 locations encompassing different regions of the Baltic Sea. Micronuclei (MN) analysis was performed in erythrocytes of 1892 specimens of flounder Platichthys flesus, herring Clupea harengus and eelpout Zoarces viviparus, three of the most common native fish species of the Baltic Sea collected in 2009–2011. MN background levels in fish were determined using data obtained in 2001–2011 from 107 Baltic sites. Extremely high genotoxicity risk zones were found for flounder at 11 stations out of 16 in 2009 and 33 stations of 41 in 2010–2011, for herring, at 5 of 18 stations in 2009 and 20 of 43 stations in 2010–2011, in eelpout only at one out of 29 stations. The sampling stations were restricted mainly to the southern and eastern Baltic Sea offshore zones and in most of them, MN frequencies in flounder and herring significantly exceeded the reference and background levels of micronuclei. This is a first attempt to evaluate the background MN responses, as well as low, high and extremely high genotoxicity risk levels for native fish species. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, the genetic population structure of the eelpout Zoarces viviparus was investigated by using microsatellites. Samples were collected at 10 sites in the Baltic Sea, covering a distance of c. 90 km. Ten newly developed microsatellite loci were used to infer the population structure. No global spatial genetic differentiation was found (global FST = 0·0001; Dest = −0·0003), indicating strong gene flow at this scale, nor any clear pattern of isolation by distance. The results suggest that gene flow among the studied populations of Z. viviparus is stronger than usually thought, which might be caused by environmental homogeneity. This is important for planning and evaluating monitoring activities in this species and for the interpretation of ecotoxicological studies. Strong migration might lead to wrong conclusions concerning the pollution in a given area. Therefore, reference stations should be placed at a larger distance than presently practiced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Eelpouts (Zoarces viviparus) sampled at surveillance stations during the fall of 2007 and spring 2008 in different Danish coastal areas, were studied for biomarkers of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure and effects. Two analytical techniques, synchronous fluorescence spectrometry (SFS) and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC/F), were applied for detecting PAH metabolites in bile and urine. CYP1A activity, in this study regarded as potential biomarker of effect, was measured as 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity in liver of eelpouts from different stations. Biliary PAH metabolite measurements were used for monitoring the environmental PAH load at the surveillance stations. There was found significant difference in biliary PAH metabolite content between sexes with male fish containing higher concentrations of PAH metabolites than females. The urinary PAH metabolite content did not show the same spatial trends as biliary PAH metabolites. However, fish from Aarhus Bight and Vejle Fjord had significantly higher levels of PAH metabolites in both urine and bile compared to the reference station Agersø. Normalisation methods applied for bile and urine matrices did not have any effect or only slightly reduced the coefficients of variation in data sets. The CYP1A activity in eelpout liver did not show the same spatial distribution trends between sampling sites as did biliary or urinary PAH metabolite contents. Male eelpouts showed significantly higher CYP1A activity than females in fall sampling period but there were no differences found in the spring period. General comparison between both seasons showed that eelpouts sampled in the fall had significantly higher CYP1A activity than fish sampled during spring season. Overall, the results of this study describe selected biomarker responses in eelpouts to environmental PAH load at the different areas along Danish coasts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: Samples from the German Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB) covering particularly the years 1994-1996, 2000-2002, and 2006-2009 were analyzed for perfluorinated compounds (PFC; mainly C4-C13 carboxylic and sulfonic acids) to gain an overview on current PFC levels and patterns in marine, limnetic, and terrestrial biota; to assess their concentrations in different trophic levels; and to investigate whether risk management measures for PFC are successful. Methods: Specimens, either standardized annual pooled samples (blue mussels, eelpout liver, bream liver, pigeon eggs) or individual single samples (cormorant eggs, rook eggs), were collected for the German ESB program from representative sampling sites according to documented guidelines. After appropriate extraction, PFC were quantified under ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation by HPLC/MS-MS with isotopically labeled internal standards. Limits of quantification (LOQs) were 0.2-0.5 ng/g. Data are reported on a wet weight basis. Results and discussion: In most samples the predominant PFC was perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). However, in marine mussels from North and Baltic Seas, PFOS levels were mostly below the LOQ, but low residues of PFOS amide were found which declined in recent years. Livers of eelpout showed maximum concentrations of 15-25 ng/g PFOS in the period 2000-2002 and low amounts of perfluoropentanoate in all years. Beside PFOS (median 48 ng/g) several PFC could be determined in cormorant eggs sampled in 2009 from a Baltic Sea site. For a freshwater ecosystem, current PFC burdens for cormorant eggs were even higher (median 400 ng/g PFOS). Livers of bream from rivers showed concentrations of 130-260 ng/g PFOS, but for bream from a reference lake levels were only about 6 ng/g. In contrast to cormorants, eggs of rook and feral pigeon from terrestrial ecosystems displayed only low PFC burdens (up to 6 ng/g PFOS). Conclusions: Generally, PFC levels were lower in marine than in freshwater biota. PFC burdens were higher in biota from the ESB-North Sea sites than in Baltic Sea organisms. Levels of PFC were quite high especially in top predators of both limnetic and marine ecosystems. Only low PFC levels were detected in eggs of terrestrial birds. A decrease of PFOS levels from maximum values around the year 2000 observed at least in North Sea biota may be a result of a production cease and shifts in marketing pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We relate the spatial variability in the distribution of benthic taxa of the Beaufort Sea to oceanographic characteristics of their habitat with the goal of illustrating potential mechanisms linking climate change to Arctic marine communities. Offshore fish of the Beaufort Sea have not been surveyed since 1977 and no synchronous measures of fish distribution and the oceanographic characteristics of their habitat have been made previously. A survey was conducted during August 2008 in the western Beaufort Sea, Alaska. The distribution and abundance of benthic fish and invertebrates were assessed with standard bottom trawl survey methods. Oceanographic data were collected at each trawl station and at several locations between stations. The dominant benthic taxa, Polar cod ( Boreogadus saida), eelpouts ( Lycodes sp.), and snow crab ( Chionoecetes opilio) were associated with cold (<−1.5°C), high salinity (>33) water found offshore of the shelf break, derived from the Chukchi Sea. These waters are expected to be high in secondary productivity, such that we hypothesize that the distribution of fish and crab was driven by conditions favorable for successful foraging. Predictions of the impacts of climate change require an understanding of the mechanisms linking the distribution and abundance of marine organisms to their oceanographic habitat. Our study documents the association of dominant benthic fish and invertebrates of the Beaufort Sea with specific water mass types and is thus a step toward this understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six of the eight currently recognized species of the zoarcid genus Bothrocara are known from the eastern Bering Sea. Two of these species, B. brunneum and B. zestum, are widespread and commonly encountered on the upper continental slope, although B. zestum was not widely recognized as a distinct species in the region until 2004. During the summers of 2004 and 2008, large-scale bottom trawl surveys were conducted along the upper continental slope of the eastern Bering Sea from Bering Canyon to the U.S.-Russian border. Over the course of these surveys, distribution, relative abundance, length frequency, length-weight, and stomach contents information was collected for B. brunneum and B. zestum. Data collected on the surveys indicate that these two species have broadly overlapping geographic and bathymetric distributions in the region, but that their population numbers are substantially different. Length-weight regressions show that although these two species reach approximately the same maximum length, B. brunneum is substantially heavier than B. zestum at all lengths over about 40 cm. Stomach contents analysis indicates that the diet of B. brunneum consists primarily of various species of shrimps and mysids, while B. zestum is primarily piscivorous, consuming primarily bathylagids and other zoarcids. Therefore, despite their general morphological similarity, these two species function very differently in the eastern Bering Sea benthic ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the interaction between 17β-trenbolone (TB) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), male eelpout, Zoarces viviparus, was exposed for 21 days (April to May 2008) to 5 ng l−1 EE2 and 5 or 20 ng l−1 TB, separately or in combination in a flow-through SW system. The effects on hepatosomatic (HSI) and gonadosomatic index (GSI), plasma vitellogenin (Vtg) concentration, gonadal histology, hepatic and testicular Vtg mRNA and estrogen receptor (ERα) mRNA expression were investigated. No effects on HSI were observed. A significant decrease was observed in the GSI of all males exposed to EE2 (<0.7%) when compared to controls (1.4%). Histological alterations and immature stages were observed in the testis of all exposed males; however, males exposed to EE2 were the most affected. Increased tubule number and proportionally decreased tubule diameter were observed in the testis of all EE2 groups. No effects in Vtg mRNA expression were observed in the testis; however, a significant decrease in testis ERα mRNA was observed in males exposed to 20 ng l−1 TB. The groups exposed to EE2 showed a significant increase in plasma Vtg (>300-fold), hepatic Vtg mRNA (>450-fold), and ERα mRNA (>100-fold) when compared to controls. This study shows that lower concentrations of 17β-trenbolone are unable to counteract the EE2 estrogenic effects when the exposure is simultaneous. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Characteristics of temperature-dependent metabolic adaptation, as well as their implications for climate-dependent energy budgets, biogeography and fitness are reviewed and analysed for populations of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua in relation to findings in other fish species from northern and southern hemispheres, especially various species of eelpout (Zoarcidae). The analysis builds on the recently posited concept of oxygen- and capacity-dependent thermal tolerance in aquatic ectotherms. Mechanistic physiological studies are used to explain both functional differences between populations and current observations (such as the northward movement of cod, or the changes in seasonal abundance of eelpout due to global warming). Available data support the hypothesis that natural selection favours individuals that maximize growth and energy efficiency at the expense of ranges of thermal tolerance. The levels of energy turnover are subject to the constraints of resource availability and temperature variability. Temperature variability in the cold, such as in the sub-Arctic, causes a rise in maintenance costs at the expense of growth, but possibly favour of motility, and thus of foraging capacity. These different trends are mirrored in higher capacities for gene expression of key enzymes involved in aerobic metabolism (during cold acclimation) in northern as compared to southern cod populations of the East Atlantic. However, detailed patterns, as well as many of the underlying mechanisms, remain underexplored, especially with respect to the suggested hierarchy of energy allocation to energy budget components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: During the late 17th century (1675–1696), which represents part of the coldest period of the Little Ice Age (known also as the Late Maunder Minimum), fishing took place at more than 20 localities along the coast of the Gulf of Riga. Tax records of the Riga Treasury College indicate that herring (Clupea harengus membras), flounder (Platichthys flesus) and eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) were the major target species at this time. The mean annual catch estimated as landing to market of these three major species was 122tonnes (range 44–230), with an average herring contribution of 73%. Fish catches fluctuated substantially both at temporal (seasonal, annual) and spatial (sub-regional) scales. We suggest that the herring fishery was affected by climatic conditions: during the period of very severe winters (i.e., 1685–1696) landings peaked in the warm summer months and were significantly lower compared to the earlier period of generally higher climate variability and less severe winters (1675–1683). Socio-economic drivers were presumably responsible for the dynamics of the flounder and eelpout fisheries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: During field campaigns of the BEEP project (Biological Effects of Environmental Pollution in Marine Coastal Ecosystems) in 2001–2002, metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in bile samples from three fish species, flounder (Platichthys flesus), perch (Perca fluviatilis) and eelpout (Zoarces viviparus), from four separate areas in the Baltic Sea. Two determination methods were applied: fixed wavelength fluorescence (FF) for pyrene-type metabolites and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC). There was a good correlation between the FF method and 1-OH pyrene determined by HPLC. Normalisation of the FF data for absorbance at 380nm or bile protein concentrations greatly increased variance in one third and decreased it in two thirds of the cases and resulted in a loss of significant differences (protein normalisation) between the sampling stations, but normalisation of the HPLC data had little effect on the results. The biliary PAH metabolite content was usually higher in males than in females. In perch and eelpout the biliary PAH contents were at similar levels, whereas in flounder the levels were lower. The sampling areas arranged in decreasing order of biliary PAH contents were: Wismar Bay>Gulf of Gdansk>Lithuanian coast>Kvadofjärden (reference area). It is concluded that FF with un-normalised data is a reliable and simple method for monitoring purposes and only one sex of a selected species should be used. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of the presented studies was to detect the possible effects of contaminants on the physiological and biochemical parameters of eelpout females from the southern Baltic. Eeelpout was sampled in Polish coastal waters during November 2001, 2002 and 2003. The integrated studies included measurements of selected biomarkers in fish as well as the analysis of female reproductive capacity and fry malformation frequencies in relation to environmental conditions in examined areas. The mean values of relative fecundity (RF) and embryo somatic (ESI) indexes were the highest at the reference site. The frequency of females carrying dead and malformed fry was the highest at selected sites from the outer and inner part of the Gulf of Gdansk. The highest mean activity levels of muscular AChE were noted in fish sampled at the reference site and one site from the outer part of the gulf, whereas liver GST activity was the highest in samples from other site from the outer part of the gulf and the reference site. The results of trace metals analyses in fish muscle and liver did not indicate any substantial differences in the mean tissue concentrations between samples from contaminated sites and the reference site. The concentrations of PCBs, HCHs and DDTs in liver were markedly higher at three contaminated sites in comparison with the other sites. A similar pattern was observed in muscle tissue. Based on the preceding evidence, it cannot be concluded unequivocally that these studies on the physiology, biochemistry and contaminant concentrations of eelpout females provide evidence that the contaminants present in the coastal areas of the Polish part of the southern Baltic Sea have a harmful impact on this species. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new species of deep-sea eelpout of the genus Pyrolycus Machida and Hashimoto, 2002 is described from two specimens collected from a hydrothermal vent field on Brothers Seamount, Kermadec Ridge. The specimens, an adult male and a juvenile male, were caught in a suction collector from the Japanese submersible Shinkai 6500 at a depth of 1336 m. Compared to its sole congener, the new species is characterised by its higher vertebral counts, lack of palatine teeth, fewer pectoral-fin rays, and a few head pore pattern differences. An expanded generic diagnosis is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]