Variation in the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA in fillets of fish from the Great Lakes region

Abstract

Abstract This dataset represents the largest collection of fatty acid data from the Great Lakes region to date, summarizing concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in fish sampled from the U.S. waters of all 5 Great Lakes and 92 U.S. lakes and rivers. Determining how freshwater fishes' fatty acid content varies across environmental gradients is important in understanding aquatic trophic interactions and to providing comprehensive fish consumption advice. However, there is currently a lack of information on variation in freshwater fish fatty acid content that may hinder human health and fisheries professionals tasked with establishing fish monitoring and analysis programs which capture this variability. To that end, fillet EPA + DHA concentrations were modeled over several biotic and abiotic gradients in order to constrain variability. Recommendations based on model results are then used to suggest starting points for planning future fish sampling efforts (e.g. inland walleye [EPA + DHA] varied with both length and waterbody eutrophication; these gradients should be incorporated into sampling efforts to capture walleye [EPA + DHA] variability). In terms of nutrition, Great Lakes species (all taxonomic families) and inland salmonid fillets contained a daily adequate intake (AI) level of ≥ 250 mg of EPA + DHA per 8-oz. (227 g) fillet, but other taxonomic families from inland waters generally did not. Very few species' fillets, regardless of sampling location or taxonomic family, contained the equivalent weekly AI level of 1750 mg EPA + DHA per 8-oz. fillet. The data presented here can inform both fish sampling efforts and fish consumption risk-benefit analyses.