Abstract:

Heavy metal accumulation in cephalopods has been one of the intricate issues in seafood export scenario in India. In recent years, many export consignments of cephalopods processed in Gujarat region were rejected on account of high levels of cadmium. To elucidate this problem, cephalopods landed at different landing centres and processed by various processing units were monitored during the period 2006-07. Among commercial samples of cephalopods, cuttlefish tentacles (0.52±0.08 ppm), squid tentacles (0.28±0.02 ppm) and frozen octopus (0.59±0.1 ppm) recorded highest accumulation of Cadmium. Organ-specific analysis revealed highest accumulation of Cd in the gut of Sepiella inermis (3.34±0.43 ppm) and Squid Uroteuthis (Photololigo) duvauceli (5.31±0.43 ppm). Similarly, in the Purpleback flying squid Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis, which is now a days landed by multiday fishing trawlers, highest residue level of Cd was observed in the liver (568.5 ±15 ppm), followed by gills, eyes and tentacles. Among different species of Octopus, highest accumulation was recorded in Octopus macropus (2.28±1.11 ppm), followed by O. membranaceus (1.86 ±0.35 ppm) and O. defilippi (1.72 ±0.82 ppm). In order to find out the source of Cd, simulation studies were carried out by soaking squid muscle in ink, signifying the fact that poor post harvest handing and consequent rupture of ink sac, followed by soaking in ink-mixed water could be a reason behind high levels of Cd accumulation in cephalopods landed in Gujarat coast.

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Date 2009/04/15

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