Heavy Metals Contamination and Biometric Characteristics of Marine Fish in The Industrial Waters of Aceh Province, Indonesia

Trevally (Caranx ignobilis), mackerel (Rastrelliger sp.), and grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) are commercially important species, and their habitats in the waters of North Aceh and Lhokseumawe Regency are potentially disturbed by industrial activities. This study was conducted to evaluate heavy metals contamination, fish biometrics and growth patterns. Data and samples were collected using the purposive sampling method. The data collection points were at four locations including station 1 PT Pupuk Iskandar Muda, station 2 PT ASEAN Aceh Fertilizer, station 3 PT Kertas Kraft Aceh, and station 4 PT Arun Natural Gas Liquefaction. The results of biometric analysis including GiSI (Gill Somatic Index), GSI (Gonado Somatic Index), GaSI (Gastro Somatic Index), ISI (Intestine Somatic Index), RGL (Relative Gut Lengths), and RIL (Relative Intestine Lengths) showed significant differences in trevally, mackerel, and grouper fish based on four research locations. The growth pattern of trevally and mackerel fish is negative allometric (b < 3), while grouper is positive allometric (b > 3). The condition factors of trevally, mackerel and grouper fish at the four stations indicated the good condition. Based on research results, the heavy metal (Pb, Cd, and Hg) content in the meat of trevally, mackerel and grouper fish, with the average content was still below quality standards‎‎‎.