A population approach to fish monitoring: too much blind trust?
In spite of pronouncements on the importance of an ecological or ecosystem approach to environmental issues, even a straightforward request such as the quantification of the effects of contaminants on a fish population can be inexorably difficult. Although no panacea for determining population reductions, biomarkers can be a useful tool for providing guidance on whether and to what extent health effects are occurring in a population. Except for their use in environmental effects monitoring (EEM) programs around oil development sites on the east coast, Canada has been a laggard in the application of biomarkers. Part of this stems from some agencies still continuing to advocate a population approach, a position which has major scientific drawbacks and probably represents too much blind trust.
Payne
Jerry F
JF
Science Branch, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. John's, NL, Canada. paynejf@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D002170:Canada; D003625:Data Collection; D004463:Ecology / Q000379:methods*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005399:Fishes; D005618:Fresh Water; D011157:Population Dynamics; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*
D015415:Biomarkers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical