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Climate change will expose the food-producing sector to a range of challenges. Inland aquaculture farms are particularly vulnerable, due to the difficulty in changing their location, and therefore require specific tools to predict the influence of direct and indirect effects on production, environment and economic feasibility. The objective of our study was to apply a simple set of models to produce a set of growth, risk and suitability maps for stakeholders within the common carp sector in Poland, to assist decision-making under two different scenarios of climate change: a moderate situation (RCP 4.5) and an extreme situation (RCP 8.5). We used present (2000-2019) and future projections (2080-2099) for water surface temperature based on land surface temperature data from regionally downscaled climate models to draw maps to: (i) show optimal temperature conditions for carp growth, (ii) assess risk of disease outbreak caused by three important common carp pathogens: Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3), carp oedema virus (CEV) and spring viremia of carp (SVCV) and (iii) predict potential suitability changes of carp farming in Poland. The study identified areas with the most and least favourable temperature conditions for carp growth, as well as those areas with the highest/lowest number of days with suitable temperatures for virus infection. These suitability maps showed the combined effect of direct and indirect effects of climate change projections under RCP 8.5 and RCP 4.5 scenarios. The approach applied herein will be of use worldwide for analysing the risks of temperature increase to land-based aquaculture, and the results presented are important for carp farmers in Poland and elsewhere, industry in general, and government stakeholders, to understand the direct and indirect effects of climate change on the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit.

Round goby Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas 1814) has become a significant component in the diet of piscivorous fish from the Pomeranian Bay (Bornholm Basin, Baltic Sea). Proper identification of fish species in the diet of predators is significant in biological studies of fish and other aquatic animal species, and, with regard to N. melanostomus, it is important to the knowledge of trophic web structures in areas this species has invaded. A total of 142 individuals of N. melanostomus, measuring 16-174 mm standard length, were examined. Seventy-two fishes were caught during monitoring surveys in fishing grounds, whereas 70 were found in the stomachs of European perch Perca fluviatilis, pike-perch Sander lucioperca and Baltic cod Gadus morhua. The objective of the present study was to analyse the sagittal otoliths to identify variations in outer shape with increases in fish length; expand and correct descriptions of the sagitta, lapillus and asteriscus otoliths; and evaluate the relationships among otolith dimensions and fish standard length. The otoliths were described morphologically. The analysis of the outer shape of sagittal otoliths using Fourier analysis and multivariate statistics exhibited great phenotypic variability that was associated with fish length, including within pairs in individuals and/or among individuals in length classes. In addition, the asterisci and lapilli of N. melanostomus from selected specimens, which were described for the first time with regard to fish length, were found to be less variable compared to sagittal otoliths. This study presents the first analysis of intrapopulation phenotypic plasticity of N. melanostomus sagittal otolith morphology as it is linked to fish size.

Summary The study analyses for the first time the diet composition of grey seals inhabiting the Polish Baltic Sea coast. Samples of seal scat were collected in the Mewia Łacha Nature Reserve at the mouth of the Vistula River. Using genetic and osteological methods, the remains of organisms included in the grey seals diet were analysed for their taxonomy (families and species). Based on the analysis of 49 scat samples from grey seals, 761 hard parts that could be identified by taxon were isolated. The predominant species in the samples were perch, Perca fluviatilis (almost 78% of samples); pikeperch, Sander lucioperca (67%); lamprey, Lampetra fluviatilis (almost 35% of samples); Baltic cod, Gadus morhua callarias (almost 31% of samples) and sea trout, Salmo trutta trutta (26.5%). Genetic analysis confirmed the presence of Atlantic cod DNA in 69% and sea trout in 63% of samples. The genetic material of the Atlantic herring, Clupea harengus has not been identified in the analysed scat samples. Information on grey seals feeding on river lampreys seems to be valuable in the context of lack of knowledge on the occurrence of lampreys in the Vistula River. The methodology used showed that seals fed on species that were the most abundant in the area which is directly associated with the migration cycle of fish. The results of our study allowed the conclusion that the grey seal is an opportunistic predator and its diet reflects and exploits the variations in its habitat.

This paper reports the occurrence of three new fish species, extremely rare in the Baltic Sea, and provides new data on their parasite fauna. The fish collected were Barbus barbus (Linnaeus, 1758), Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill, 1814), and Scophthalmus rhombus (Linnaeus, 1758). Their taxonomic identity was confirmed through genetic analyses using DNA extracted from fin clips. The stomach contents were examined, and age was determined by otolith or scale readings. Parasitological examinations focused on the skin, vitreous humour, eye lenses, mouth and nasal cavities, gills, gonads, viscera, and muscles. Furthermore, the changes of fish species composition over 20 years in Pomeranian Bay were analysed. The sequence comparisons against GenBank records revealed that sequences obtained for B. barbus and S. rhombus from Pomeranian Bay represent new rhodopsin barcodes. Record of the juvenile B. barbus in this study is the first in the Baltic Sea. Scophthalmus rhombus is a new host for the ciliate Trichodina jadranica, while Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1814) is a new food item in the diet of S. rhombus in the Baltic Sea. Acanthocephalan Pomphorhynchus laevis found in the adult specimen of B. barbus and myxozoan Myxobolus musculi, noted in the juvenile specimen, have not been recorded previously in this fish species in Polish waters. Species collected as bycatch can potentially be used for monitoring potential changes in the overall fish community structure and biodiversity.

Background. Automated processing of the fish caught on board a ship can potentially lead to a quality control breach. Specimens visibly infected with parasites are processed, frozen, and directed to the market. On the other hand, the removal of the body elements of taxonomic importance (e.g., fins, head, skin) opens gates to variously motivated seafood frauds. We had been alerted by local veterinary authorities about a fish consignment from the Falklands with a substantial volume of muscles with black contents. Materials and methods. The material for the presently reported study were decapitated, finless, and gutted fish delivered to our lab by the County Veterinarian of Szczecin (Purchased by a local importer from a Spanish fish wholesaler). The fish were labeled as “Pseudophycis bachus (Forster, 1801)”, and allegedly came from the Falklands. After thawing, the fish muscles were dissected, focusing on the distinctly black areas, examined following methods commonly used in parasitology, and observed under a dissecting and a compound microscope. Samples were collected also for molecular studies aiming to disclose the fish taxonomic identity. DNA barcoding gene (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, COX1) was used to perform the genetic characterization for the collected fish specimens. The degree of similarity between the new records (MT318699 and MT318700) and the other records of Moridae species in the GenBank was assessed by building COX1 gene phylogeny. Results. The muscles contained large galls filled with black fluid. The fluid stained the adjacent muscles. Inside each gall, we found a single female of Sarcotaces sp., several “dwarf” males, eggs, and newly hatched nauplius stages. Using the molecular methods, the fish were identified as Mora moro (Risso, 1810). Conclusion. A preliminary veterinary inspection of the catch on board of fishing vessels may help to avoid huge financial losses when a parasitized fish consignment is rejected by veterinary authorities on land. It is evident that the European regulation regarding fish parasites requires an urgent revision. Mora moro does not occur off the Falklands as declared by the wholesaler. This seafood fraud was probably motivated by the urge to conceal a catch from European waters and thus avoid exceeding national fishing quotas. Species of the genus Sarcotaces require a revision backed by molecular methods.

Summary: Etmopterus spinax is a deep-sea shark species that inhabits the northeast Atlantic and the western Mediterranean Sea. Skagerrak and Kattegat are reported to be part of the distribution of the species, but it has never been noted in the southern Baltic. Lacking any commercial value and commonly discarded in trawl and longline fisheries, E. spinax has been poorly studied. We reported on the first record of one specimen of E. spinax caught in the Pomeranian Bay on October 13, 2016 at a depth of 10 m. It was a female measuring 42.7 cm in total length. The morphological examination of the specimen was supported with COI barcode analysis, whereas species assignment to the population of origin was conducted based on a control region (CR) sequence of mtDNA. COI and CR sequence searches against GeneBank confirmed its identity as E. spinax and revealed that the specimen shared identical haplotypes with fish from populations in the Azores, Rockall Trough, and west of Ireland in the northeast Atlantic. The stomach contents, parasitic fauna, and hepatosomatic index of the individual were also examined. Only one L3 larval Anisakis simplex nematode specimen was collected from the stomach lumen of the shark. The specimen could have arrived in the Pomeranian Bay along with an inflow from the North Sea. In December 2014, a strong Major Baltic Inflow brought large amounts of water into the Baltic Sea, followed by some inflows of moderate intensity. Keywords: Etmopterus spinax, Anisakis simplex, Pomeranian Bay, Southern Baltic Sea, Inflow from the North Sea

Catch and consumption of torpedo scad (Megalaspis cordyla) over the western Indian Ocean, but also the western Pacific from Japan to Australia is constantly increasing. Taking into account the degree of exploitation and missing information on the population structure of torpedo scad stocks it is crucial to provide population data. The analysis included individuals obtained in 2012 and 2013 from local markets in Madagascar, Tanzania, Vietnam and Cambodia and after successful DNA extraction fragment of the nuclear rhodopsin gene (RH1) and 9 microsatellite regions (SSRs) were amplified and analysed. Based on the obtained results it was found that there was no 100% overlap between the compared RH1 sequences and those from GenBank. In the case of the studied SSRs, the results allowed the initial characterisation and assessment of the genetic diversity of populations. Moreover, population assignment test distinguished the studied populations into two geographically distant subpopulations.

Summary The presence of exotic fish species in the Baltic Sea and its tributaries poses a serious threat for native ichthyofauna, mainly due to the spread of new pathogens. As the accurate identification of species is essential for an effective assessment of changes related to the appearance of non-native species in an aquatic environment, in this paper we tested the usefulness of biometrics and molecular markers in identifying a specimen from the Mugilidae family found in the Odra estuary. The results demonstrated that unambiguous identification of the specimen using biometric features was impossible due to high morphological similarities shared by grey mullets. Unambiguous identification was possible only due to molecular markers, e.g. rhodopsin gene, which helped to identify the collected fish specimen as Liza ramada (Risso, 1827), the first specimen of this species found in the Odra River estuary. The presence of an L. ramada specimen in the Odra River – which could signal the expansion of non-native species into wider ranges – may be linked to climate change or human activity.

Background Conservation of noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) populations is becoming particularly important since the number of individuals is rapidly declining across the distribution range of the species in Europe. Five crayfish populations in northwestern Poland have been constantly monitored for two decades. However, the genetic structure of these populations has not been analysed, although this information is important to devise effective conservation strategies. Methods Noble crayfish were collected in the autumn of 2014 by scuba diving in Lakes Graniczne, Babinki, Biwakowe, Sęki and Kwisno, all of which are situated in the Bytów Lakeland of northwestern Poland. Genetic diversity of the five populations was assessed based on allele variability in nine SSR regions and six AFLP primer combinations. Results Microsatellite results analysed with AMOVA showed that the diversity between populations corresponds to 18% of total variability, which was confirmed by similar results obtained using AFLP. Additionally, significant genetic diversity was revealed by high average FST values. All of the studied crayfish populations significantly deviated from the expected Hardy–Weinberg genetic equilibrium and were characterised by negative values of inbreeding coefficient (FIS). Discussion The invariably negative inbreeding coefficients (FIS) suggest a low number of mating individuals, a possible consequence of the phenomenon known as genetic bottleneck. However, additional comprehensive analyses are needed to assess the genetic structure, origin and vulnerability of the remaining populations of noble crayfish in the Bytów Lakeland of northwestern Poland, which have high conservation value and are particularly important as a live genetic bank for breeding and restitution purposes.

Biometric character analyses were conducted on Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus, a species included in a re-establishment programme in the Baltic Sea basin. The study sought to identify measurable and countable characters most useful for distinguishing A. oxyrinchus from three alien species found in open waters of Poland: Acipenser baerii, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, and Acipenser stellatus. Measurable characters that contributed most to discrimination included preorbital distance, eye diameter, ventral fin base to anal fin base, and postorbital distance. Among countable characters, the number of lateral scutes made the greatest contribution. The data from the present study may be used to supplement existing systematic keys and lay the foundations for creating a catalogue or atlas of popular species and interspecific hybrids of sturgeon, including their complete systematic determination.

This paper presents the results of studies on endangered and rare non-commercial fish species (Spinachia spinachia, Nerophis ophidion, Syngnathus typhle, Agonus cataphractus, Pholis gunnellus, Enchelyopus cimbrius, Cyclopterus lumpus) and one lamprey species (Lampetra fluviatilis), recorded as bycatch during monitoring surveys in 2010–2013 in the Pomeranian Bay. Two species were observed for the first time in the Pomeranian Bay: A. cataphractus and E. cimbrius. Descriptions of parasite fauna are provided for C. lumpus and E. cimbrius, which were infected with four pathogenic species from Neomonada, Digenea, Nematoda, and Acanthocephala. Almost all parasite species were new in the hosts examined.

BackgroundConservation of noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) populations is becoming particularly important since the number of individuals is rapidly declining across the distribution range of the species in Europe. Five crayfish populations in northwestern Poland have been constantly monitored for two decades. However, the genetic structure of these populations has not been analysed, although this information is important to devise effective conservation strategies.MethodsNoble crayfish were collected in the autumn of 2014 by scuba diving in Lakes Graniczne, Babinki, Biwakowe, Sęki and Kwisno, all of which are situated in the Bytów Lakeland of northwestern Poland. Genetic diversity of the five populations was assessed based on allele variability in nine SSR regions and six AFLP primer combinations.ResultsMicrosatellite results analysed with AMOVA showed that the diversity between populations corresponds to 18% of total variability, which was confirmed by similar results obtained using AFLP. Additionally, significant genetic diversity was revealed by high average FSTvalues. All of the studied crayfish populations significantly deviated from the expected Hardy–Weinberg genetic equilibrium and were characterised by negative values of inbreeding coefficient (FIS).DiscussionThe invariably negative inbreeding coefficients (FIS) suggest a low number of mating individuals, a possible consequence of the phenomenon known as genetic bottleneck. However, additional comprehensive analyses are needed to assess the genetic structure, origin and vulnerability of the remaining populations of noble crayfish in the Bytów Lakeland of northwestern Poland, which have high conservation value and are particularly important as a live genetic bank for breeding and restitution purposes.

Background. The study is a contribution to Project CELFISH which involves genetic identification of populations of fish species presenting a particular economic importance or having a potential to be used in the so-called commercial substitutions. The EU fish trade has been showing a distinct trend of more and more fish species previously unknown to consumers being placed on the market. Molecular assays have become the only way with which to verify the reliability of exporters. This paper is aimed at pinpointing genetic markers with which to label and differentiate between two populations of splendid alfonsino, Beryx splendens Lowe, 1834, a species highly attractive to consumers in Asia and Oceania due to the meat taste and low fat content. Materials and methods. DNA was isolated from fragments of fins collected at local markets in Japan (MJ) (n = 10) and New Zealand (MNZ) (n = 18). The rhodopsin gene (RH1) fragment and 16 microsatellite DNA fragments (SSR) were analysed in all the individuals. The sequences obtained were processed using the BioEdit and BLAST software, whereas SSR data were processed with the GeAlEX analysis package. Results. The BioEdit software-aided comparison of MJ and MNZ nucleotide sequences of the rhodopsin gene fragments were identical and showed 100% agreement with the alfonsino sequence deposited under access number DQ197832. The preliminary analysis of SSR markers showed all the loci analysed in both populations to be polymorphic, and when randomly selected specimens were assigned to the original populations. The affinity test correctly identified the provenance of all those specimens. Conclusion. The results obtained constitute a tool for molecular differentiation between alfonsino populations collected in the FAO 81 (New Zealand) and FAO 71 (Japan) areas for the purpose of catch quota control and for checking the agreement between the label declaration and the actual product.

The genetic variability between individuals from five crayfish (Astacus astacus L.) populations was determined. The analysis was based on sequences variations of mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S ribosomal DNA. Mitochondrial DNA sequences are widely used to detect genetic variation within and between populations. Data analysis revealed the existence of two COI haplotypes – most common haplotype Hap01 and one new haplotype, differed only in one substitution. Analysis of the 16S rDNA sequences obtained showed no differences in nucleotide composition. The results of the analysis are important part of project “Active protection of noble crayfish in lakes of Pomeranian Complex Landscape Parks” financed by Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area 2014–2016.

The first occurrence of striped red mullet Mullus surmuletus in the Pomeranian Bay (in 2007) and the occurrence of three very rarely noted species (tub gurnard Chelidonichthys lucerna , Atlantic horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus , thicklip grey mullet Chelon labrosus ) collected in 2007–2008 in the Pomeranian Bay, Szczecin Lagoon and Lake Dąbie are reported. Their expansion is probably due to increased sea temperatures resulting from climate change, as well as the inflow of saline water. The ‘visitors’ hosted eight pathogens from four taxonomic groups: Protozoa, Nematoda, Acanthocephala and Mollusca. Nematodes, the most numerous ones, were found in three host species. All the parasite species were new for the hosts examined; only the larvae of the acanthocephalan Corynosoma strumosum had already been recorded in one of the hosts ( Chelidonichthys lucerna ). The stomachs of almost all the fish examined were empty, but the species composition of the parasite fauna found showed that the fish must have ingested some food in the Pomeranian Bay.

Background. Monitoring the genetic diversity of fish populations can provide information necessary to determine fishing quotas for the commercially caught species. One of the species subjected to intensive exploitation is the yellowstripe scad, Selaroides leptolepis (Cuvier, 1833), commonly occurring in the coastal waters of Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia. This paper is the third part of a larger project: ”Development of a genetic-based system for identification of food products from fisheries and aquaculture introduced to the European Union customs area”. Materials and methods. Fin fragments of the yellowstripe scad, Selaroides leptolepis, were obtained in 2012 and 2013 from local markets in Vietnam (SVN), Cambodia (SKH), Malaysia (MMY), and Indonesia (MID). The analyses focused on the amplification and sequencing of a fragment of the nuclear rhodopsin gene which utilized as identification label. Subsequently, in the obtained SVN, SKH, MMY, and MID samples, 11 microsatellite regions (SRR) were analysed. Sequence analyses were performed using the BioEdit and BLAST software, while the analysis of the obtained SRR data was conducted using the GenAlEx software. Results. The analysis of the obtained loci variants divided the investigated populations into two genetically homogeneous groups: the Vietnamese–Indonesian group and the Malaysian–Cambodian group. The analysis of genetic diversity revealed statistically significant deviations from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium in the investigated populations and indicated the Vietnamese population as the most stable, while the Malaysian population as the least stable. Conclusion. The study provides information on the genetic diversity of the investigated populations and allows assignment of the captured fish to the geographical regions specified. Moreover, indicate that among analysed populations the safest populations were those caught in the local fisheries (continental shelf) of Vietnam and Cambodia due to their high mean genetic diversity.

Exotic species of acipenserid fishes have been frequently encountered in the commercial catches of the Baltic Sea, since the early 1990s. Such sightings are rarely reflected as published records. The present paper provides detailed descriptions of two specimens of Russian sturgeons, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii caught in the Exclusive Polish Economic Zone of the Baltic Sea.

Background. Genetic traceability of seafood as well as population identification using molecular methods provide useful information about the fish origin and are important for protection of overfished populations, as well as for monitoring illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fisheries. The presently reported study focused on Indian mackerel, Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier, 1816)—a pelagic species with a wide range of distribution—especially important for many tropical countries, such as India, Philippines, and Thailand. This paper is the first part of a larger project: ”Development of a genetic-based system for identification of food products from fisheries and aquaculture introduced to the European Union customs area”. Materials and methods. Samples consisting of fin fragments of Indian mackerel were obtained from local markets in Thailand (MTH), Vietnam (SVN), Cambodia (SKH), and Madagascar (SMG) within 2012–2013. Two genes were analysed: nuclear rhodopsin gene (RH1) and mitochondrial D-loop (D-loop) region through RFLP analysis simulation and sequencing. Additionally, the samples from Cambodia and Madagascar were analysed with eight microsatellite loci (SSR). The data processing was aided by GenAlEx 6.5 and GeneClass2 software. Results. A comparison of the RH1 gene section revealed a total homology among the studied samples. A comparative analysis of D-loop sequences in the studied groups revealed intrapopulational diversity for MTH-, SKH-, SMG-, and SVN samples, at the level of 1, 1, 0.5, and 0.6 percentage points, respectively. Furthermore, the D-loop sequences identified a characteristic restriction site for SMG population. Based on the allele frequencies, we randomly assigned selected individuals to their original populations. GeneClass2 software correctly assigned only 16 out of 21 individuals to either the Cambodian or the Madagascar population, which jointly constituted 76% of all samples. We demonstrated, using AMOVA and GenAlEx 6.5, that the highest level of variability occurred among individuals within the respective populations, while the lowest interpopulation diversity was between the SMG and SKH populations. Conclusion. Our results may help the relevant authorities in the countries of the European Union to identify Indian mackerel and especially its products and trace them to the respective locality. Our findings may also be used for species-specific conservation measures hopefully undertaken by fisheries authorities of the countries where we took our samples. Results on other fish species, prepared in the frames of the same project, will be presented in other papers that will follow soon.

Background. The majority of European populations of vimba, Vimba vimba (L.), have been classified into increasing categories of conservation status while Polish populations of this fish are classified as CR (critically endangered) and in fact they are facing extinction. In many rivers in Poland, including the Odra River, restitution efforts of vimba have been undertaken. Monitoring some biological parameters of the population such as the rate of growth (increase in mass and length), age structure, sex structure, and condition nay help to evaluate the success rate of the restitution efforts. Materials and methods. In total, 210 individuals of vimba, caught in the waters of the southern part of the Odra River estuary, mainly in Lake DÄ…bie, between 28 May 2007 and 30 June 2008 were studied as to their age, condition, rate of growth in mass and length. Making use of the linear R–L dependence, the back calculations were made according to the Rosa Lee procedure with a standard of 20 mm. Results were approximated by 5 mathematical models of growth proposed by von Bertalanffy, Ford–Walford, Gompertz, and based on second degree polynomial function and modified power function. Increase in mass was described by a modified von Bertalanffy equation. The condition of the fish was described by the Fulton (K) and Le Cren (Lc) formulae. Results. Females dominated in the material studied, they constituted over 61% of all individuals. In the age structure groups, females were most often found in groups: 10+ (13.33%), 9+, and 11+ (12.86% each). Males were found in the greatest number among 5-, 6-, and 7-year-old fish (4+, 5+, and 6+, respectively). The mean standard length and mass of the vimba fish studied were 306.33 mm and 286.02 g, respectively. The annual increase in length of the fish approximated 20 mm, being the most intense in the first two years of life (23–24 mm). Fulton and Le Cren coefficients of condition were 0.93 and 1.64 and the ranges of these values were 0.69–1.47 and 1.15–2.60, respectively. Conclusion. Analysis of back readings and empirical results proved that the growth of vimba was best approximated by the von Bertalanffy model. Comparative analysis of condition coefficients of the population of vimba in the Odra River estuary and other populations showed that the condition of analysed vimba population in individual years of live was lower.

The genetic variability of whitefish, Coregonus lavaretus (L.), was studied based on 114 individuals from nine populations inhabiting Polish lakes, including the Szczecin Lagoon, and from one population each from lakes in Austria and Switzerland. Differences within and among populations were assessed with mitochondrial ND-1 gene sequences that were PCR amplified and digested with ten restriction enzymes. The ten composite haplotypes obtained were sequenced and analyzed with MEGA4 software. The highest intrapopulation variability was noted in the whitefish populations inhabiting lakes Insko, Miedwie, Marianowo, Wisola, Œremskie, Morzycko, the Szczecin Lagoon, and Lake Lucerne, which possessed from two to five composite haplotypes. In contrast, populations inhabiting lakes Woœwin, Czarne, and Traunsee were fixed for the most common haplotype H2.

Background. Asian pangasiids (Actinopterygii: Siluriformes: Pangasiidae), commonly referred to as “panga”, have recently became an important item on the European fish markets. The fish are currently imported from south-east Asia but the growing consumers’ demand is likely to motivate European fish growers to culture the “panga” locally. This in turn could bring about unforeseeable consequences for the aquatic environment. The presently reported study provides the first record of a pangasiid fish (two specimens) from the European natural waters. We attempted to identify the fish through complex morphometric procedures and to study all their parasites, thus determining their potential threat for the environment. Materials and methods. Two specimens of pangasiid fish were captured in a pond, in the city of Szczecin, Poland. The fish were examined following procedures commonly accepted in morphological studies yielding detailed measurements. The key structures were described and illustrated (e.g., the shape of dentition on both the vomerine and palatine plates). The measurements were taken with an electronic calliper and a dissecting microscope (Nikon SMZ 1000), coupled with the Lucia Measurement System. Additionally, during necropsy, selected organs were checked for the presence of parasites. Results. One of the fish specimens hosted the monogenoid parasite, Thaparocleidus caecus, that has never been found in Europe. Metric and meristic characters of fish studied, as well as the presence of monogenoid T. caecus suggest that the fish found were representatives of Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, however, some features, especially those related to the ratio between fins and body or total length, differ markedly from the species description. Comparative analysis suggested that the two specimens collected in Szczecin are hybrids, most likely of P. hypophthalmus with other species, of unknown origin, presumably imported from Thailand. Conclusion. The specific identity of pangasiids imported alive to Europe should be monitored in the future. Additional genetic studies are needed. The monogenoid parasite found on the fish studied poses no threat to the native ichthyofauna (because of its very narrow host-specificity).

Background. The presently reported finding of leopard pleco, Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps (Kner, 1854) (Loricariidae), in open waters of the Brda River in the centre of Bydgoszcz, constitutes the first record of a south-American loricariid fish species in Poland. The specimen found is described and illustrated. The finding is discussed in association with other alien species sightings in Poland. The described leopard pleco is possibly the next example of an emerging alien fish species in inland Polish waters.

Global consumption steadily increases due to development of aquaculture but also more efficient fisheries sector. Therefore, fish processing plants and ultimately consumers face products from new fish species which significantly differ in case of their nutritional values, technological or culinary properties. The aim of the study was to randomly collect specimens of bigeye sea perch, Helicolenus barathri; New Zealand sole, Peltorhamphus novaezeelandiae; white bass, Morone chrysops; thicklip grey mullet, Chelon labrosus and ridge scaled rattail, Macrourus carinatus and provide multidimensional characteristics i.e. species authentication, proximate assessment, structure and texture analysis as well sensory evaluation. Study confirmed authenticity of all fish samples and new DNA barcodes were introduced into database of fish profiles. Chemical composition of fillets differed significantly among species, and the unfavourable nutritional values had ridge scaled rattail, bigeye sea perch and New Zealand sole which had unfavorable fatty acid profile, high atherogenic (AI) and thrombogenic (TI) indexes, and low hypocholesterolemic to hypercholesterolemic acids ratio. On the other hand, fillets of freshwater white bass had the best PUFA:SFA ratio, and favourable TI and AI indexes from the consumer’s health point of view. Moreover, fillet of the white bass was selected by panellists as the most desirable. Structural analysis also revealed different degree of undesirable changes in fillets observed as breakdown of myofibrils and connective tissue. Multidimensional analysis characterized randomly selected sample and provided a set of useful information both for customers and fish processing sector.