Morphological and biochemical responses to environmental contaminants in farmed and wild European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax).

The presence of environmental pollutants in both wild and cultured fish is cause of concern. The European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L., Teleostei, Moronidae) represents one of the most diffused marine species cultured in the Mediterranean areas. Aim of this study was to investigate the relationships of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran (PCDDs and PCDFs), dioxin-like and non dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl (DL and NDL-PCBs) levels in the muscle of wild and cultured sea bass with morphological and enzymatic activities as biochemical biomarkers of exposure. In farmed fish, levels of contaminants were lower than those detected in other studies. The low level of contamination was confirmed both by enzymatic activities and by gonad, liver and gill morphology showing absence of chronic alterations. Keywords: environmental pollutants, biomarker, seabass, aquaculture.