Evaluation of response to environmental pollution in Atlantic cod

Abstract

In this thesis the response to environmental pollution in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) caged in the Stavanger fjord is evaluated. Three separate locations were selected according to the waste water discharge plume on the coast of Stavanger, and fish were caged for 4 weeks. The first location was situated east of Kvitsøy and used as a reference location. The second location was west of Kvitsøy, close to an aquaculture facility. The third location was positioned in the proximity of a waste water discharge facility at sea.

Selected biomarkers were applied to detect mainly estrogenic changes in fish, as a consequence of potential exposure of pharmaceuticals contained in the outlet of the waste water in Stavanger.

The results showed that there were no significant differences in neither acetylcholinesterase nor aromatase activity in fish caged at the three different locations. Some biomarkers showed significant difference between fish caged at the reference point and fish caged by the discharge facility, however the overall results showed that fish caged by the waste water discharge were not significantly affected. Further research is needed to provide an accurate conclusion to the evaluation of response to environmental pollution in Atlantic cod.

In this thesis the response to environmental pollution in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) caged in the Stavanger fjord is evaluated. Three separate locations were selected according to the waste water discharge plume on the coast of Stavanger, and fish were caged for 4 weeks. The first location was situated east of Kvitsøy and used as a reference location. The second location was west of Kvitsøy, close to an aquaculture facility. The third location was positioned in the proximity of a waste water discharge facility at sea.

Selected biomarkers were applied to detect mainly estrogenic changes in fish, as a consequence of potential exposure of pharmaceuticals contained in the outlet of the waste water in Stavanger.

The results showed that there were no significant differences in neither acetylcholinesterase nor aromatase activity in fish caged at the three different locations. Some biomarkers showed significant difference between fish caged at the reference point and fish caged by the discharge facility, however the overall results showed that fish caged by the waste water discharge were not significantly affected. Further research is needed to provide an accurate conclusion to the evaluation of response to environmental pollution in Atlantic cod.