MERCURY IN FLOUNDER (PLATICHTHYS-FLESUS L) FROM ESTUARIES AND COASTAL WATERS OF THE NORTH-EAST IRISH SEA

This paper reports concentrations of mercury in muscle tissue of flounder (Platichthys flesus L.) from various estuaries and coastal waters of north Wales and north-west England that encompass the north-east Irish Sea. Mercury concentrations were highest within and offshore the Ribble Estuary (0.476 +/- 0.037 mg kg-1) but were also high within the Mersey (0.389 +/- 0.042 mg kg-1) and Dee Estuaries (0.295 +/- 0.065 mg kg-1) and at coastal sites in the vicinity. Values for all three estuaries and their near coastal sites were significantly higher than for sites in the north and central sectors of the study area. Regressions of mercury concentration against fish length showed significant relationships and age accumulation for the majority of sites, particularly within or in close proximity to the Mersey, Dee and Ribble Estuaries.