Assessment of Trace Metal Concentrations in Three Seafood Deep-Sea Fished Caught in the Moroccan Atlantic

The investigation within the framework of this study was carried out on three marine species fished off in Moroccan coasts, namely: a fish, the sole (Solea Vulgaris), a cephalopod, the cuttlefish (Sepia Officinalis) and a crustacean, the pink shrimp (Parapenaeus Longirostris). The aims of this study were assessing the level of concentration in these three marine species, of three metallic trace elements: lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) and giving a reflection on the way in which Moroccan deep-sea fishing professionals can join a food safety management system to ensure the safety of their product and promote their competitiveness. Sampling was carried out at the port of Agadir city after landing of the deep-sea fishing boats which operate beyond 10 nautical miles, offshoring the seabed of Agadir for pink shrimp (Parapenaeus Longirostris), and in Dakhla city offshore for sole (Solea Vulgaris) and cuttlefish (Sepia Officinalis). Trace metal analysis was performed on individual muscles belonging to the three species. The results of the conducted investigations show that the Pb content varies between 0.01 ppm and 0.27 ppm in Solea Vulgaris; between 0.015 ppm and 0.16 ppm in Sepia Officinalis and between 0.022 ppm and 0.38 ppm for Parapenaeus Longirostris. For Cd, the concentrations vary between 0.0047 ppm and 0.050 ppm in Solea Vulgaris; between 0.0025 ppm and 0.254 ppm in Sepia Officinalis and between 0.0065 ppm and 0.11 ppm in Parapenaeus Longirostris. Concerning Hg, the contents vary between 0.0006 ppm and 0.075 ppm in Solea Vulgaris; between 0.0008 ppm and 0.05 ppm in Sepia Officinalis and between 0.0016 ppm and 0.09 ppm in Parapenaeus Longirostris. It appears from this study that the metal contents detected at the level of the three species of seafood investigated are below the regulatory thresholds. These results can be considered as the first basis for validating the control measure linked to the absence of metallic contamination of the three species in the sites studied.