Metals in Eulachons from the Nass River and Crabs from Alice Arm, B.C.

In 1981, Amax Molybdenum of Canada Ltd. began discharging tailings from its molybdenum mine at Kitsault, British Columbia into Alice Arm. Native Indians living in coastal areas of Northern B.C. expressed concern with respect to the potential for metal contamination of certain food f ish and invertebrates as a result of the tailings disposal. In response to this concern, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans carried out a sampling program in 1981 and 1982 to determine the metal content of Nass River eulachons (Thaleichthys pacificus) and small numbers of King crab (Paralithodes camtschatica) and Tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdl) from Alice Arm. Levels of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, lead and zinc were measured in organisms sampled. This report presents results of the sampling program and compares them with metal data from organisms previously collected from coastal waters of British Columbia and other selected coastal locations throughout the world.