Fish samples for FDA

The decision was taken on Monday following a meeting of stakeholders at the Planning Ministry’s offices at the Eric Williams Financial Complex in Port-of-Spain.

The tests will be done on various species of fish in 12 geographic areas where landing sites are located.

These include La Brea, Carenage, Cedros, Icacos, Kings Wharf, Mayaro, Maracas/ Las Cuevas, Carli Bay, Claxton Bay, Otaheite and 2 fishing sites in Tobago.

The areas selected are located within range of the major fishing environments so as to provide sufficient data.

The fish samples from these areas will be tested for the following heavy metals (lead, copper, mercury, zinc) as well as poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Some of the species selected for testing, based on local consumption patterns, are kingfish, carite, salmon, shark, mullet, catfish, shrimp and species common to Tobago.

Specimens will be collected by Public Health Inspectors based on the protocols prescribed by the FDA laboratory.