EFFECTS OF SUBMARINE MINE TAILINGS DISPOSAL ON JUVENILE YELLOWFIN SOLE (PLEURONECTES ASPER) - A LABORATORY STUDY

Behaviour, survival, and growth studies were conducted in the laborato ry on juvenile yellowfin sole (Pleuronectes asper) exposed to mine tai lings produced by a pilot plant for a gold mine near Juneau, Alaska. F ish avoided fresh tailings in favour of natural marine sediment (contr ol) and weathered tailings (75 years old). Only when fresh tailings we re covered with 2 cm of control sediment did fish prefer control and f resh tailings equally Survival of fish was similar (p = 0.66) for fish held on all test sediments. Fish held on fresh tailings for 60 d grew significantly (p = 0.013) less than control fish during the first, bu t not the second, month. Avoidance or short-term reductions in flatfis h growth may occur from submarine disposal of tailings. Rapid burial o f tailings in areas with high natural sedimentation (e.g., large river mouths) may accelerate recovery of the sea floor. Published by Elsevi er Science Ltd.