Lobster Contaminants
Title
Screening the Levels of Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic, Chromium, Zinc, Mercury, and Thallium in the Traditional Food-Lobster of Eel River Bar First Nation
Description
The purpose of this project was to examine the concentrations of heavy metal contaminants: cadmium, lead, arsenic, and mercury as well as chromium, thallium and zinc within the lobster traditionally consumed by the Mi’gmaq of Eel River Bar, New Brunswick.
A total of 44 lobsters we tested, where 22 were cooked and 22 were raw. Due to high laboratory analysis costs, a decision was made to test both lobster meat and tomalley together for each lobster.
The mean concentrations for all 44 lobsters were found to be lower than the maximum allowed levels according to International standards for arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. However, when observing the levels of heavy metals in individual lobsters, five (5) lobster had levels of cadmium that were in excess of its respecting International standard of 0.5 mg/kg set by the Commission of the European Communities. There were no International standards identified for chromium, thallium and zinc in lobster. There was no observed correlation on the concentrations of heavy metals between raw and cooked lobster.
Project Details
- Year: 2011-2012
- Status: Complete
- Project Funding Source: Health Canada – RFNCP
Files:
Project Updates
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All Right Reserved.
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Tagged Atlantic Salmon Caught near Listuguj
/in News /by clabilloisThe Gespe’gewaq Mi’gmaq Resource Council (GMRC) is piecing together the interesting life of the Atlantic salmon. A couple of weeks ago, Tim Dedam was cleaning the salmon he caught, at the wharf, in Listuguj when a small black object dropped out of the fish. The fallen object was a tagging device that was surgically inserted by GMRC staff on April 20, 2021. The tagging device tracks the Atlantic salmon as it migrates out to sea. Receivers are located near Listuguj, Eel River Bar, Gesgapegiag, the strait of Belle Isle, and up the coast of Labrador. There are also gliders going around the gulf, and the north Atlantic. Having a tag return is an exciting because it is very rare for tags to be returned! This information provides researchers with important information. GMRC Director of Research Carole-Anne Gillis compared data from when the salmon was tagged to its current state. Salmon scales were collected in 2021 and again in 2022 on this fish and will be able to provide researchers with answers on the growth of the salmon during the past fourteen months. When the Atlantic salmon was tagged, it was 81 centimetres in length and when it was caught it measured 94 centimetres. The information may be able to indicate the diet of the Atlantic salmon throughout its journey. Fishers are encouraged to return any tags to the GMRC. GMRC is part of a large multi-year project funded by the Environmental Studies Research Fund (ESRF) and we acknowledge the ongoing collaborative spirit of this Atlantic salmon tagging initiative. We will continue to work closely with our colleagues to complete this salmons’ story.
Satellite tag for Atlantic Salmon
Atlantic salmon scales can inform researchers how long they spent at sea.
GMRC Director of Research, Dr. Carole-Anne Gillis is taking a fin clip from the Atlantic salmon.
Acoustic tags surgically inserted into the Atlantic salmon to track the migration route. Tag number 13941 was inserted into a kelt.
Acoustic tag #13941 was found in an Atlantic salmon on the Restigouche River near Listuguj.
GMRC Director of Research Dr. Carole-Anne Gills collected scales from an Atlantic salmon.
GMRC Cleans Shoreline for World Ocean Day
/in News /by clabilloisPoor weather conditions resulted in the shoreline cleanup for World Ocean Day being postponed to June 8th. However, the weather was more cooperative on Thursday, July 7th when 9 volunteers joined staff from the Gespe’gewaq Mi’gmaq Resource Council (GMRC) for the shoreline cleanup. The volunteers walked over 1.5 kilometers of shoreline and only 1 tire and 3 bags of trash was collected. The staff noticed the beach is cleaner than it has been in previous years. Great job on keeping our shorelines cleaner resulting in much less trash from entering the Bay and harming the fish and its habitat. We would also like to thank the Eel River Bar Habitat and Recovery team and Mariette Hachey Boudreau from the Port of Belledune for volunteering.
World Oceans Day
/in News /by clabilloisCome celebrate World Ocean Day with the Gespe’gewaq Mi’gmaq Resource Council (GMRC) on Wednesday, July 6th. GMRC will be hosting a shoreline cleanup in Eel River Bar as we do our part to help to protect and restore our shared ocean and climate by keeping litter from entering the bay. We invite volunteers to join our staff starting at 9:30 a.m until noon time. Garbage bags and gloves will be provided, and volunteers will have their name entered into a draw for gift cards. A lunch will be provided for those volunteers.