Norwegian scientists have found that fish from the Barents Sea generally contain fewer environmental pollutants than those caught in the Norwegian Sea. The study looked at five commercially essential species: cod, haddock, mackerel, halibut and herring.
Except for mackerel, all species from the Barents Sea showed lower levels of mercury and persistent organic pollutants compared with their southern counterparts. Nutritional values, such as vitamin D, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids, were similar across both regions.
“The results show the potential of the Barents Sea as a source of healthy seafood,” said Quang Tri Ho, a researcher at the Institute of Marine Research.
Fatty fish bring higher nutrients – and higher risks.
The study, published in Environment International, analysed 1,620 fish samples collected between 2019 and 2023. Researchers measured 13 nutrients and six groups of contaminants, including mercury, dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls.
The findings confirmed that fatty fish, such as mackerel and herring, contained more beneficial nutrients but also higher levels of pollutants.
Even so, the health advantages may outweigh the risks. Ho pointed to one example: eating 190 grams of mackerel or 130 grams of herring per week carries only a 5 per cent chance of exceeding recommended pollutant limits. Both species remain strong sources of key nutrients.
Machine learning sharpens analysis.
To handle the vast dataset, the team turned to supervised machine learning. This allowed algorithms to map patterns between nutrients and pollutants, improving predictions of both risks and benefits from fish consumption.
“The model works like a risk–benefit calculator,” explained Ho. “It balances the nutritional value against the chance of harmful exposure, species by species and region by region.”
Implications for seafood and health
The research suggests that consumers choosing fish from the Barents Sea face lower pollutant risks while still gaining the same nutritional benefits.
By providing detailed insight into how species and regions differ, the findings could help health authorities and consumers make more informed choices.
As Ho summed up: “The key is weighing both the advantages and the disadvantages – and the Barents Sea comes out favourably.”