Mercury bioaccumulation in Tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps) from offshore waters of South Carolina, USA.

Mercury (Hg) concentrations in Tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps) have been reported to be one of the highest of all fish species, resulting in advisories that, historically, have recommended zero consumption. The current study assesses Hg bioaccumulation in Tilefish targeted by the commercial fisheries operating off the coast of South Carolina, USA. We provide results for an under-sampled region and explore how life history potentially impacts Hg uptake in Tilefish. Mercury concentration in Tilefish muscle tissue ranged from 0.10 to 0.99 ppm, with a mean of 0.23 ppm (n = 63). The majority of Tilefish samples (95%) were within the "Good Choices" range for consuming at least one serving per week, with 62% being within the range considered best for eating two meals a week", per suggestion by the US EPA and US FDA (2017). The present study of Tilefish from the western Atlantic further substantiates the importance of monitoring Hg in commercial fish species regionally.