Three bottom feeder species, Mugil curema, Boleopthalmus dussumieri, and Scylla serrata collected from five different estuaries of South Gujarat, India were studied to determine the concentration of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, and Hg. Results indicated species-specific bioaccumulation which significantly varied between the stations. The heavy metal concentration in all the species varied in descending order of Cu>Zn>Pb>Hg>Cd. The concentration of Cu was predominant in B. dussumieri whereas M. curema and S. serrata recorded a higher concentration of Zn than other metals. The average concentration of Cu, Zn, Pb, Hg and Cd recorded in fishes were 6.77 mg kg-1, 5.60 mg kg-1, 0.37 mg kg-1, 0.19 mg kg-1 and 0.01mg kg-1 wet weight respectively. Moreover the average concentration of Cu, Zn, Pb, Hg and Cd in crab was 4.67 mg kg-1, 6.82 mg kg-1, 0.36 mg kg-1, 0.14 mg kg-1 and 0.0 mg kg-1 wet weight respectively. The bio-concentration factor (BCF) revealed the total metal concentration in biota was “low” in all the species with the maximum concentration in M. curema followed by S. serrata and B. dussumieri. The findings of the present study report a higher concentration of Pb (1.23 mg kg-1 wet weight in M. curema, 0.91mg kg-1 wet weight in B. dussumieri and 0.79 mg kg-1 wet weight in crabs) than the prescribed limit of FAO/WHO (0.3 mg kg-1 wet weight) from the studied area. The results of the present findings could be useful to develop effective management strategies for policy-makers and stakeholders.

Heavy metal assessment, fish, crab, Gulf of Khambhat, bioconcentration factor