Objective
Method
Urchins
individual samples are anticipated and
all will be surveyed for relative
activity levels. A selected number,
probably no more than 200 will be
quantitatively analyzed. Included in
the latter estimate are all species
used. in the diet. Some selected shells
Sea cucumber
Clams
Coral
Starfish
and coral will be carefully analyzed
Langusta
and correlated with growth rates, concentrations, as indicators of changes
in the environment as a function of
time,
3)
Gut contents of bottom-feeding fish collected in different areas will be
analyzed to assess concentration levels in lagoon areas,
Comparison of the activity levels in each of the above sample types will
be used to contour activity levels in the lagoon and reef,
Data from many
sample types, especially edible organisms, will be used for dose assessment,
Field
recommendations will be forwarded to the laboratory for guidance in
sample preparation and analysis.
Food chain dose assessment requirements
Purpose:
To provide samples in order to determine the activity levels in all
edible marine species,
The data are required to assess dose from aquatic food
sources.
There will be close coordination with the radiological assessment team who
will generate the information regarding Marshallese diet and define the percentage
of each marine trophic level in the diet.
This information is necessary to
determine the sample size of a species needed,
method of the sample.
type of species, and post-treatment
Assessment of the levels of activity in carnivores,
bottom feeding carnivores, omnivores, herbivores and all invertebrates will be
made.
Dietary habits of the Marshallese people will be considered in the
treatment of samples.
Some species may be consumed whole,
these defined specimens will be made on the entire fish.
The analysis on
For those species
where only the flesh or other organs are consumed, the samples will be dissected
and the tissue analyzed.
The variability in activity levels in similar species
from different areas will be determined.
areas visited by the 1964 survey team,
Sampling sites will include those
Fishing methods will include trawls,
gill nets, long lines, traps, rod and reel, and spearing.
Although the fishing
will be operationally defined, 200 to 300 samples are anticipated for quantitative
~25-