On The Water: New Survey Of Atlantic Striped Bass Health In NY Waters

NEW YORK — A two-year study that will monitor the health and contaminant levels of Atlantic striped bass in New York's marine waters will have a much bigger impact than just on the condition of one species, the New York State Department of Environmental Protection (DEC) just announced.

The DEC is collaborating with Cornell University and the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County to collect Atlantic striped bass (Morone saxatilis) samples until December 2023. The samples will be collected from the Atlantic Ocean, the Long Island Sound and New York Harbor for measuring levels of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and other contaminants and for performing biological studies that will inform commercial fishery restrictions, update New York State Department of Health (DOH) Fish Consumption Advisories and improve New York's understanding of contaminants in the Atlantic striped bass population.

"Striped bass can be found in all of New York's marine waters, from the Troy Dam to spawning grounds in the mid-Hudson and nursery habitat in Long Island Sound to their annual spring and fall coastal migrations in the Atlantic Ocean," DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, announcing the wide-ranging study. "DEC is thrilled to be working with our partners to understand how decades of collective environmental efforts are improving coastal habitats and contributing to healthier fisheries and increased benefits to New Yorkers."

The elevated levels of contaminants in striped bass found in the early 1990s caused New York to restrict the commercial harvest of the fish in the area east of the mouth of Wading River Creek in the Long Island Sound and east of the terminus of the East Rockaway Inlet in the Atlantic Ocean.

The last comprehensive assessment of PCB levels in New York's marine district took place back in 1994, with supplemental studies last taking place in 2007.

For the study, areas of New York's marine waters will be divided into zones and striped bass of legal commercial size will be collected monthly, April through December, from each zone. Additionally, five fish larger than legal size will be collected during each monthly period as available from each zone. The first year of the survey will focus on sampling the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island Sound, while the second year will collect fish from New York-New Jersey Harbor.

Analysis and quality control work will be conducted in the DEC's Hale Creek Field Station laboratory and in commercial analytical laboratories. In addition to PCB, other contaminants that will be tested for include mercury and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from all areas, as well as dioxins and furans from the New York-New Jersey Harbor fish. Samples from each fish will provide data on size, age, sex, disease prevalence, population genetics and diet.

"The purpose of this toxicological research is to determine the levels of PCBs in the tissue of striped bass, as humans may be exposed to PCBs in the waterways through fish consumption," State Department of Health Commissioner Mary Bassett said. "Each year we issue updated fish advisories based on these types of studies so New Yorkers will avoid any potential health risks, and fish from waterbodies in New York can continue to be eaten as part of a healthy diet."