Author(s)

N. Thérien, C. Surette, R. Fortin, M. Lucotte, S. Garceau, R. Schetagne & A. Tremblay

Abstract

Reduction of mercury concentration in fish through intensive fishing of lakes: A preliminary testing of assumptions N. ~ h ~ r i e n ] , C. surette2, R. ~ortir?, M. ~ucotte~, S. ~ a r c e a u ~ , R. schetagne3 & A. ~ r e r n b l a ~ ~ I Facultk de gknie, UniversitL de Sherbrooke, Canada 2~niversitL du Qukbec a Montrkal, Canada 3 Department of Hydraulics and Environment, Hydro-QuLbec, Canada Abstract Intensive fishing of lakes has been indicated in the literature as a means of reducing mercury concentrations in fish. However, the controlling process by which this occurs remains unclear. Three assumptions are generally put forward to explain the reduction. The first is that intensive fishing would affect the total mercury balance of the lake and reduce the mercury bioaccumulation in fish. The second is that the fish diet would be affected, especially for piscivorous fish feeding on smaller prey fish with lower mercury concentration following intensive fishmg of larger prey fish. The third assump

Keywords