Mercury in Greenland halibut

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority requested the National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES) in Bergen to investigate the levels of mercury in Greenland halibut caught in the Barents Sea. The investigation was instigated following a report of elevated levels of mercury in Greenland halibut from this geographical area.

The sampling of Greenland halibut was organised by the Directorate of Fisheries from position N73^o15' - E 15^o00' og N73^o00' - E 15^o00' (a distance of approximately 15 nautical miles) in the Barents Sea.

Analysis by NIFES of mercury in 65 Greenland halibut from the Barents Sea, showned that 7 individual fish had mercury concentrations that exceeded EUs' upper limit of 0.5mg/kg wet weight, and the concentration range was 0.02-1.1 mg mercury/kg wet weight in skin-and boneless fillet samples .

All 7 fish with a higher level of mercury than EUs' upper limit weighed more than 3 kg, but not all fish over 3 kg had mercury concentrations in their muscle tissue that excceded the EUs' upper limit. Out of a total of 65 fish analysed, 40 fish weighed over 3 kg. None of the fish with a round weight less than 3 kg had fillet mercury levels which exceeded EUs' upper limit of 0.5mg/kg wet weight. The results indicate a link between the weight of individual fish and its mercury content. It is known that mercury accumulates with weight and age of predatory fish.

An English summary of the report.

Contact person:
Kåre Julshamn
Head of Documentation and Surveillance
mobile: 99 48 77 01