Despite decades of regulatory intervention, hazardous substances continue to accumulate in marine life across Europe’s regional seas. The latest data compiled by the European Environment Agency (EEA), spanning 2010 to 2022, reveal that contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), lindane, mercury, and PAHs remain present at measurable—and in some cases concerning—levels in some organisms.

While many of these compounds have been phased out of use, they remain persistent in sediments, water columns, and biota. Their presence signals ongoing environmental risk and raises questions about the effectiveness of pollution controls. For the marine ingredient industry and downstream feed and food sectors, these findings carry implications for product safety, raw material sourcing, and regulatory compliance.

What the Monitoring Shows

The EEA indicator assesses hazardous substances in mussels and oysters from the North-East Atlantic, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and Black Sea. These bivalves are ideal bioindicators because they are stationary and filter pollutants directly from their environment.

Between 2010 and 2022, nine priority substances were monitored, including:

• Metals: Cadmium, lead, and mercury

• Persistent organic pollutants: PCB118, lindane, TBT, and HCB

• PAHs: Benzo[a]pyrene and fluoranthene

Concentrations were classified using environmental quality standards (EQS), OSPAR background levels, and human health thresholds. The North-East Atlantic and Mediterranean generally showed low to moderate levels, though exceedances were observed—particularly for PCB118, lindane, and benzo[a]pyrene. The Baltic Sea consistently displayed moderate levels across substances, with several high concentrations for PCB118 and lindane, indicating ongoing pollution pressure. The Black Sea had limited data, reducing confidence in assessments.

While declining trends were observed in some regions, especially the North-East Atlantic, most stations showed either no clear trend or insufficient data. This suggests slow progress in reducing contamination levels, particularly in the Baltic and Mediterranean.

PCB118 stood out as the most frequently elevated substance across all regions, reinforcing its status as a persistent and bioaccumulative risk as highlighted in the figure below which highlights PCB118s prevalence across all measured stations.

Aligning with EU Policy Goals

The EEA’s findings highlight a continued mismatch between current pollution levels in marine organisms and the objectives of major EU policies, including the Zero Pollution Action Plan, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), and the Farm to Fork Strategy. Persistent contamination—particularly from substances like PCB118 and lindane—threatens progress toward Good Environmental Status and a safer food system. To address this, the EU should strengthen emission limits and tighten environmental permitting frameworks, particularly for industries with the potential to discharge hazardous substances into marine environments. This includes improved enforcement, clearer thresholds, and more consistent application across Member States.

As EU chemicals and environmental legislation undergo reform, it is vital that efforts remain focused on pollution prevention and the reduction of hazardous substances at source. Maintaining high regulatory ambition is essential to safeguarding marine ecosystems, public health, and the integrity of the feed and food value chain.

EFFOPs conclusions

The persistence of hazardous substances in Europe’s marine ecosystems reminds us that chemical pollution remains a long-term challenge, even decades after substances have been banned. For the marine ingredient sector, the goal must be to stay ahead of regulatory expectations by investing in traceability, quality assurance, and proactive engagement with environmental data. As the European Union advances its Green Deal and zero-pollution ambitions, the fishmeal and fish oil industry has both a responsibility and an opportunity to position itself as a transparent, science-driven actor in the broader sustainability transformation.