RECENT ADVANCES IN CONTAMINANT ASSESSMENT OFFER PROACTIVE ALTERNATIVES FOR MANAGING CONTAMINATED FISHERIES

For a variety of reasons, many fisheries managers seem reluctant to ge t involved in contaminant issues even though the effect on fisheries c an be far-reaching. The involvement of fisheries managers in this proc ess is critical, and recent advances in assessment techniques offer ho pe that a more active management of contaminated fisheries is possible . Managing contaminated systems is often limited to contaminant analys is of fish tissue (and sometimes water and sediment), community survey s, and posting of consumption advisories. New approaches using advance d statistical analyses, simulation modeling, and bioindicators of envi ronmental stress offer additional tools that can be used to better und erstand the transport and fate of contaminants, to assess potential ec ological injury, and to evaluate Proposed remedial actions. For these tools to be useful in management situations, managers and researchers will need to cooperate in both the development and use of these new te chniques.