Trace metals in the muscle tissue of nine species of commercially important marine fishes collected from Port Blair (Andamans) and at Kochi (Kerala, southwest coast) were compared to study the level of bioaccumulation. Levels (pg per g dry weight) of dd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were estimated using ASS. Except Mn and Zn, all other metals were below detection levels in the samples collected from Port Blair. Compared to the same species and similar size from Kochi, Mn in Saurida turnbil (17.85 µg/g) and Zn in Epinephelus tauvina (97.1 l µg/g) from Port Blair were at higher levels. Samples from Kochi recorded accumulation of 1.42 µglg Cd and 271µg/g Fe in Rastrelliger kanagurta, 11.3 µg/g Cu in Sardinella gibbosa and 83.3 µg/g Pb in S. rurnbil. Baring Pb, the bioaccumulation of all other metals in the fish samples was within the WHO prescribed safe limits. Compared to the levels of Pb in sediment (59.76 µg/g) and water (1.8 µg/l) from Port Blair, lower value was recorded in the sediment (7.5 µg/g) and higher values in water (2.17µg/l) from Kochi. Significant correlation could not be established between the metal levels of Sediment and water samples neither from Port Blair nor Kochi. Significant correlation to 0.0l leve1 could be established positively between water and Liza parsia, E. tauvina and S.longiceps as well as Pentaprion longimanus and R. kanagurta with sediment from Kochi.

Trace metals, marine fish, Port Blair, Cochin