Study Into High Mercury Levels In Fish

This was announced by the chairman of the Committee on Fisheries, Senator Antonio Horvath, following a report by the Institute of Public Health, which indicated the presence of pollutants in albacore and tuna.

The report revealed the presence of mercury, above the statutory maximum, in 30 per cent of albacore samples and in 2.3 per cent of the tuna, Mr Horvath said.

Mr Horvath explained that the idea of the meeting was "to address the issue of heavy metals in seafood products ... and thus obtain where pollution comes from."

He also said that there are suspicions that the heavy metals may have come from coal mining operations, as on the island of Riesco.