Characterizing the Health Status of European Hake (<i>Merluccius merluccius</i>) in Areas with Different Anthropic Impacts (NW Mediterranean Sea).

ABSTRACT: The high incidence of anthropogenic impacts in the Mediterranean basin raises concerns on the health and quality of commercial fish species. This study aims to evaluate the health status of the European hake, Merluccius merluccius, from three areas of the Catalan coast (NW Mediterranean Sea) with different anthropogenic impacts (i.e., chemical pollution, litter, …) and assess if hake could serve as a sentinel species. We measured biomarkers of chemical exposure including B-esterases, antioxidant enzymes (GST, GR, GPx, CAT), biotransformation markers (EROD), lipid peroxidation, and macro-parasite assemblages. Hake showed, generally, a good health status across all areas with homogeneous patterns for most parameters. Tissue-specific differences included elevated gonadal cholinesterase

SUBMITTER: Brandts I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12785107 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature