Finland considers more intensive fishing to reduce dioxins in Baltic Sea fish

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Dioxin concentrations in salmon and herring in the Baltic Sea continue to exceed EU limits.
      According to the most recent report submitted to the European Union, three out of five herring fillet batches bought at Finnish shops contained an excessive amount of dioxins. Nevertheless, Finland and Sweden have been granted a temporary exemption from the EU directive, allowing the countries to continue the sales of fish exceeding permitted levels through 2011.
     
The maximum concentrations of the 1960s and 1970s at first fell rapidly, when environmental emissions were reduced. However, the favourable development gradually petered out, and for many years the dioxin levels in fish have no longer been decreasing.
      In fact, the dioxin concentrations in Baltic herring have not declined, as the growth of fish has retarded, says professor Juha Karjalainen from the University of Jyväskylä.
     
Finland is now considering increasing catches in order to reduce dioxin levels in fish. In other words, fish would be caught smaller than previously, which means that the levels of toxic environmental compounds would be lower. In addition, fish could reach the catch size faster when the competition for food would become easier.
      The Finnish Food Safety Authority continues to stress that eating fish is good for the health. However, children, teens, and people in their fertile years should avoid eating Baltic herring over 17 cm in length more than once or twice a month.
      In its report to the EU, Finland notes that it would be possible to reduce the dioxin levels of herring by one fifth by increasing fishing.
      A permanent reduction in dioxin concentrations is possible only if emissions are cut further, the report says.
      If dioxin levels cannot be brought down to EU standards, Finland will have to consider applying for a further extension of its exemption.
     
Dioxins accumulate in the organs and have long half-lives. They are suspected to cause developmental disabilities, and in high levels they are also carcinogenic compounds.
      In Finland most of the dioxins in the environment have come from sawmills, while 80 per cent of the dioxins Finns are exposed to are found in fatty fish, particularly in Baltic herring.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Pike, Baltic salmon and herring to be eaten in moderation (29.4.2004)
  Poll: Finns, Swedes, and Estonians very worried about pollution of Baltic Sea (16.5.2008)

Links:
  Dioxins (Wikipedia)
  The Finnish Food Safety Authority

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