Evaluation of Nutritional status and heavy metal Contamination in selected Indigenous fish Species from Kollam Harbour, South West Coast of India

Fishes, an imperative source of easily digestible high-quality proteins, playing a vital role in human health. Marine pollution can increase the concentration of toxic metals in water and may affect fish health.The major objective of the present study was to determine the nutritional quality, condition factor and heavymetal concentration of edible fish species, fin fish Rastrelliger kanagurta(Cuvier, 1816), and shell fish Metapeneusdobsoni(Miers, 1878), collected from the Arabian Sea coast of Neendakara harbour, during the summer season (February) of 2019. The nutritional quality was determined by the proximate composition analysis of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. Heavy metal concentration in seawater samples and fish tissues were done by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The finfish muscle contains highest protein content, making it a good protein source. This study revealedthat the tissues of both fish species showed lead and cadmium content above the permissible limits for consumption by FAO/WHO, 1989. The seawater analysed showed highest concentration ofcadmium, and this may lead to the increasedcadmium concentration in both fish species. The source of these heavy metals may be from the different anthropogenic activities like fuel from motor boats, sewage discharge, waste disposal. Heavy metals, including iron, zinc are necessary minerals in fish metabolism but are toxic in high concentrations whereas cadmium, chromium, lead, are toxic metals even in trace concentrations.