GREAT LAKES FISH
MONITORING AND
SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM
TECHNICAL
REPORT
Status and Trends of Contaminants in Whole Fish through 2016

- _ ».<*¦ \, ¦


United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
February 2021
EPA 905-R-20-002
Great Lakes
RESTORATION,

Prepared By:
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Great Lakes National Program Office

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO)
supported this work through agreements and contracts with several state, provincial, tribal, academic,
private laboratory, and contractor collaborators including: 1) award agreement GL00E01505 "The Great
Lakes Fish Monitoring and Surveillance Program: Expanding the Boundaries" with Clarkson University,
State University of New York (SUNY) Oswego, and SUNY Fredonia; 2) EPA Contract No. EP-C-15-
012, Water Security Division Mission Support, with CSRA LLC, a General Dynamics Information
Technology company (herein after referred to CSRA) under the direction of Louis Blume, Contracting
Officer's Representative; 3) a CSRA purchase order (under EPA Contract No. EP-C-15-012) with
Aquatec Biological Sciences, Inc., (Aquatec); and 4) agreements with several field sampling teams which
are identified annually. Field sampling teams for this monitoring program include Michigan Department
of Natural Resources Alpena Fisheries Research Station and Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station, U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS) Lake Superior and Lake Ontario Biological Stations, U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service (USFWS) Green Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, Great Lakes Indian Fish and
Wildlife Commission, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and Ohio Department of Natural
Resources Sandusky Fisheries Research Unit.
GLNPO would like to acknowledge the Michigan DNR Alpena Fisheries Research Station and Aquatec
for their participation in an inter-laboratory comparison study of fish age enumeration structures that
concluded in 2016 and USFWS Green Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office for reading coded wire
tags removed from Lake Trout collected for the GLFMSP.
GLNPO gratefully acknowledges the support of the following team members in the preparation of this
Technical Report:
Affiliation
Team Members
EPA GLNPO
Brian Lenell, Elizabeth Murphy, Louis Blume
Clarkson University
Thomas Holsen, Bernard Crimmins
CSRA
Marian Smith, Kenneth Miller
Cover Photo Credit: Greg Kennedy, USGS Great Lakes Science Center.
Citation: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2021. Great Lakes Fish Monitoring and Surveillance
Program Technical Report: Status and Trends of Contaminants in Whole Fish through 2016. EPA 905-R-
20-002.
CONTACT INFORMATION
For additional information, questions, or comments about this document, please contact Brian Lenell
(EPA GLNPO) using the contact information provided below.
Brian Lenell
U.S. EPA
77 West Jackson Boulevard, G-9J
Chicago, IL 60604-3507
Tel: 312-353-4891
lenell .brian@epa.gov
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE | ii

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
Acknowledgments	ii
List of Figures	iv
List of Tables	iv
1	Executive Summary	1
2	Introduction	2
3	Description of Methods	3
3.1	Sample Collection	3
3.1.1	Base Monitoring Program	3
3.1.2	Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI)/Special Studies	3
3.2	Biological Data Collection and Homogenization	5
3.3	Analysis	5
4	Quality Assurance and Quality Control	6
5	Results	7
5.1	Sample Collection	7
5.1.1	Base Monitoring Program	7
5.1.2	Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI)/Special Studies	7
5.2	Biological Data Collection and Homogenization	8
5.3	Analysis	10
5.3.1	PCBs	10
5.3.2	PBDEs	13
5.3.3	Mercury	15
5.3.4	HBCDD	17
5.3.5	PFAS	17
5.3.6	Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs)	19
6	Future Reporting	20
7	Summary	20
References	20
Appendix A - List of Recent GLFMSP Publications	A-l
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE | iii

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: GLFMSP Collection Sites	4
Figure 2. Mean Total PCB Concentration (ppb) in Lake Trout/Walleye 1992-2016	12
Figure 3. Mean Total PBDE (5 Congeners) Concentration (ppb) in Lake Trout/Walleye 2002-2016	14
Figure 4. Mean Total Mercury Concentration (ppb) in Lake Trout/Walleye 2000-2016	16
Figure 5. Concentrations of Halogenated Compound Classes in GLFMSP Mega-composite Samples
from 2016	19
Table 1: 2016 Base Monitoring Program Analytical Data Sets	6
Table 2: 2016 Base Monitoring Program Field Data	7
Table 3: 2016 CSMI Lake Trout Field Data	7
Table 4: 2016 CSMI Forage Fish Field Data	8
Table 5: 2016 CSMI R/V Lake Guardian Collected Field Data	8
Table 6: 2016 Base Monitoring Program Biological Data	9
Table 7: 2016 CSMI/Special Studies Lake Trout Biological Data	9
Table 8: 2016 Age Data (Base Monitoring Program and CSMI/Special Studies Lake Trout)	10
Table 9: Summary of 2016 Total PCB Site Means and Temporal Trends	11
Table 10: Summary of 2016 Total PBDE (5 congeners) Site Means and Temporal Trends	13
Table 11: Summary of 2016 Total Mercury Site Means and Temporal Trends	15
Table 12: Summary of 2016 Total HBCDD Mega-composite Means	17
Table 13: Summary of 2016 Total PFAS and PFOS Composite Means	18
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE | iv

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) Great
Lakes Fish Monitoring and Surveillance Program (GLFMSP) is a long-term monitoring program
designed to: 1) collect, analyze and report contaminant concentrations in Great Lakes fish , 2) improve
understanding of contaminant cycling throughout food webs in the Great Lakes, and 3) screen for
emerging chemicals in fish tissue to identify priority chemicals warranting future trend analysis and
study. Samples collected for the GLFMSP are screened for emerging chemicals and analyzed for several
different classes of contaminants including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl
ethers (PBDEs), mercury, hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
(PFAS), toxaphene, chlordanes, and other organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). An assessment of data
through 2016 shows that concentrations of several contaminants are decreasing in Great Lakes top
predator fish. These trends may be attributed to pollution reduction and clean-up efforts within the Great
Lakes watershed. Key highlights from the 1992-2016 monitoring show that the:
•	Mean total PCB concentrations in fish declined at all sites since 1992;
•	Mean total PBDE concentrations in fish declined at all sites since 2002; and
•	Mercury concentrations in fish declined at the Rockport, Lake Huron and Apostle Islands, Lake
Superior sites since 2006.
The GLFMSP collects fish at one of two long-term monitoring stations in each of the Great Lakes, in the
late summer to fall of each year, with stations alternating within each lake annually. In support of the
2016 Lake Superior Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI), fish and other samples (e.g.,
benthic invertebrates, water samples) were also collected at both GLFMSP collection sites in Lake
Superior. Analytical results are made publicly available approximately 18 to 22 months after field
collection, following biological data collection, homogenization, chemical analysis, and data quality
review. In 2016, samples were collected between June and November at GLFMSP even-year sites within
each lake.
This report summarizes the field sample and biological data collection results (e.g., species, number of
fish, length, weight, gender, age) from all 2016 GLFMSP collection efforts and presents the analytical
results from five classes of contaminants (PCBs, PBDEs, mercury, HBCDD, and PFAS) in Lake Trout
(Salvelimis namaycash) and Walleye (Sander vitrens) collected for the GLFMSP Base Monitoring
Program. The analytical results from 2016 are placed into the context of long-term trends beginning when
each contaminant was first subjected to routine monitoring.
PCBs: Trend data show that mean total PCB concentrations at each site continue to show a statistically
significant decline over the short term (2006-2016) and the long term (1992-2016).
PBDEs: Mean total PBDE concentrations showed a statistically significant decline at all Lake Trout sites
in Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Ontario in the short term (2006-2016) and in the long term
(2002-2016). The decline in mean total PBDE concentrations in Walleye at the Middle Bass Island, Lake
Erie site was significant in the long term, but not in the short term.
Mercury: Mean mercury concentrations continue to show a statistically significant decline over the past
decade(2006-2016) at the Rockport, Lake Huron site and the Apostle Islands, Lake Superior site;
however, concentrations show a statistically significant increase at the Saugatuck, Lake Michigan site,
and no long-term change was observed at the Middle Bass Island, Lake Erie site or the Oswego, Lake
Ontario site. The overall increase in mercury concentration observed at Saugatuck was small, and the
analysis does not include age-corrected fish data. When evaluated across a longer time period beginning
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE | 1

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
when mercury was first subjected to monitoring at these sites (2000-2016), only the Apostle Islands, Lake
Superior site had a statistically significant decline; no statistically significant change was observed for
Saugatuck, Rockport, Middle Bass Island, or Oswego sites.
HBCDD and PFAS: There are currently not enough years of data to evaluate temporal trends for
HBCDD or PFAS. In 2016, mean total HBCDD was highest at the Rockport, Lake Huron site and lowest
at the Middle Bass Island, Lake Erie site. In 2016, mean total PFAS and mean perfluorooctanesulfonic
acid (PFOS) (a PFAS compound) concentrations tended to be highest at the Middle Bass Island, Lake
Erie site and the Oswego, Lake Ontario site and lowest at the Apostle Islands, Lake Superior site.
CECs: This report also presents the results of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC) screening
analyses performed on Base Monitoring Program samples. The most abundant CEC compound class
found in this screening was halomethoxyphenols.
2 INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) Great
Lakes Fish Monitoring and Surveillance Program (GLFMSP) is a long-term monitoring program that was
initiated in 1977 and designed to: 1) collect, analyze and report contaminant concentrations in Great
Lakes fish , 2) improve understanding of contaminant cycling throughout food webs in the Great Lakes,
and 3) screen for emerging chemicals in fish tissue to identify priority chemicals warranting future trend
analysis and study. Lake Trout and Walleye are targeted by the GLFMSP for biomonitoring because these
top predator fish occupy the highest trophic levels in the Great Lakes aquatic food web and as such tend
to accumulate higher levels of persistent and bioaccumulative contaminants (McGoldrick and Murphy.
2016).
The present design of the GLFMSP includes two components: 1) Base Monitoring Program and 2)
Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI)/Special Studies.
The GLFMSP helps EPA satisfy its statutory requirements under Section 118 of the Clean Water Act to
establish a Great Lakes system-wide surveillance network to monitor the water quality of the Great Lakes
(33 U.S.C. § 1268 et sea.) with a specific emphasis on the monitoring of toxic pollutants. It also helps
satisfy the Agency's obligations under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) to "monitor
environmental conditions so that the Parties may determine the extent to which General Objectives, Lake
Ecosystem Objectives, and Substance Objectives are being achieved," and "undertake monitoring and
surveillance to anticipate the need for further science activities and to address emerging environmental
concerns" (GLWQA 2012). Further, this program allows EPA to meet commitments in the Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Action Plan III to "assess the overall health of the Great Lakes ecosystem
and identify the most significant remaining problems" (GLRI 2019).
This report summarizes sample and biological data collection results for the 2016 Base Monitoring
Program and C SMI/Special Studies collection efforts and presents the 2016 Base Monitoring Program
analytical results in context with long-term trends. This report focuses on analytical results from five
classes of contaminants (polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs], polybrominated diphenyl ethers [PBDEs],
mercury, hexabromocyclododecane [HBCDD], and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances [PFAS]) which
have been designated as binational chemicals of mutual concern through the GLWQA Chemicals of
Mutual Concern Annex (Annex 3) (GLWQA 2012) and also includes results from Contaminants of
Emerging Concern (CEC) screening analyses.
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE | 2

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
3 DESCRIPTION OF METHODS
This section summarizes methods for sample collection, biological data collection, homogenization,
and analysis.
3.1 SAMPLE COLLECTION
Field sampling teams perform sample collections every year in the late summer to fall according to
sample collection standard operating procedures (SOPs) (EPA 2012a) and deliver fish to a
homogenization laboratory after collection. A total of seven sampling teams collected fish for the Base
Monitoring Program and C SMI/Special Studies components in 2016 between June and November:
•	Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission
•	Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Alpena Fisheries Research Station
•	Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station
•	Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Sandusky Fisheries Research Station
•	U.S. Geological Survey Lake Ontario Biological Station
•	U.S. Geological Survey Lake Superior Biological Station
•	Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Detailed information on collection methods can be found in the subsections below.
3.1.1	Base Monitoring Program
Top predator fish are collected at two sites in each of the Great Lakes with sites alternating within each
lake annually (Figure 1) for the Base Monitoring Program. Collection sites are intended to be
representative of offshore conditions in each Lake. Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycash) are collected in all
lakes and Walleye (Sander vitreus) are collected at one site located in the western basin of Lake Erie
which is too shallow to support lake trout. Lake trout in the size range of 600-700 mm are targeted and
Walleye in the size range of 400-500 mm are targeted for collection (target number of fish per site = 50).
Fish size ranges were determined with the assumption that they represented specific age ranges, 6-8 years
for Lake Trout and 4-5 years for Walleye. Detailed collection and site information for the GLFMSP Base
Monitoring Program is located in the GLFMSP Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) (EPA 2012a).
3.1.2	Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI)/Special Studies
The Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI) is a binational effort instituted under the 2012
GLWQA to coordinate science and monitoring activities in one of the five Great Lakes each year to
generate data and information for environmental management agencies. The GLFMSP supports the CSMI
via additional sample collection efforts and analyses to gather information regarding contaminant cycling
throughout food webs in the Great Lakes. During the CSMI field year, fish are collected at both GLFMSP
sites within the CSMI lake; in 2016, the CSMI lake was Lake Superior. Lake Trout in the size and age
range collected as part of the Base Monitoring Program are targeted (target number of fish per site = 10).
The top five most abundant species of forage fish in the CSMI lake are also collected at both sites when
available (total target number of fish per site = 110). The GLFMSP cooperators collect sediment, benthic
invertebrates, phytoplankton, zooplankton/seston, and water samples in the CSMI lake aboard the R/V
Lake Guardian. Detailed collection and site information for the GLFMSP CSMI/Special Studies
component is provided in the GLFMSP QAPP (EPA 2012a).
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE | 3

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
Stations
Odd Year •
Depth (m)
Keweenaw
Point-"*!
Apostle Islands
Map Projection: Albers Equal Area
Rockport
Sturgeon Bay
Lake
Huron
Port Austin
Oswego
Lake Ontario
Lake
hchigan
North Hamlin
Saugatuck
Dunkirk
Middle Bass Island
Figure 1: GLFMSP Collection Sites.
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE j 4

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
3.2	BIOLOGICAL DATA COLLECTION AND HOMOGENIZATION
The homogenization laboratory receives fish from the field sampling teams and processes these fish in the
winter to spring time period. In 2016, the homogenization laboratory was Aquatec Biological Sciences, Inc.
(Aquatec). Aquatec follows approved GLFMSP specific SOPs (Aquatec 2016) when processing samples.
The homogenization laboratory recorded biological data (e.g. length, width, weight) and any
abnormalities (e.g., tumors, fins missing, wounds), collected samples for aging purposes (e.g., scales,
otoliths, maxillae, coded wire tags [CWTs]), and aged the fish. In 2016, lake trout age was determined
based on annuli enumeration of maxillae and otoliths1. Fish age is an important variable when assessing
contaminant trends and as such, the GLFMSP compositing scheme was revised in 2013 to group fish
according to age (rather than by length) prior to homogenization and chemical analysis. CWTs were also
used to age lake trout when available. Walleye age was determined based on annuli enumerations of
otoliths. EPA reviewed the ages and assigned fish into five fish per composites (target number of
composites per site = 10) based on age for sites where the target 50 fish were collected. At the Apostle
Islands site, a total of 46 lake trout were collected, so nine composites of five fish and one composite of
one fish were created. At the Oswego site, a total of 19 fish were collected. Low sample numbers could
result in more variable site means because they are based on less data owing to: 1) decreased sample sizes
as a smaller number of composites are created for the site; and/or 2) fewer than the target of five fish
comprised the composites. Because of this, composites including fewer fish were created for Oswego to
minimize within-composite age variability among fish.
After grouping fish into composites based on EPA's criteria noted above, the homogenization laboratory
processed the whole fish and prepared composites of these samples. In addition, a mega-composite was
prepared (i.e., tissue from all composites from a single site) where applicable for screening of
contaminants of emerging concern. The single fish composite from Apostle Islands was not included in
the mega-composite for this site in 2016. The homogenization laboratory created tissue aliquots and
delivered them to the analytical laboratory cooperator and to EPA's archival facility.
3.3	ANALYSIS
The analytical laboratory cooperator receives fish tissue aliquots from the homogenization laboratory in
the spring of the year following collection year. The analytical laboratory cooperators that analyzed the
2016 collected fish tissue were Clarkson University, State University of New York (SUNY) Oswego, and
SUNY Fredonia. The 2016 Base Monitoring Program analytical data sets are presented in Table 1. All
analytical data generated to support the GLFMSP are prepared in accordance with an approved QAPP and
SOPs (Clarkson University 2016).
Upon sample receipt, the analytical laboratory cooperator analyzed the homogenate tissue for different
classes of contaminants including PCBs, PBDEs, mercury, HBCDD, PFAS, toxaphene, chlordanes, and
other organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). The analytical laboratory cooperator also utilized mega-
composite samples collected for the Base Monitoring Program to determine the presence of CECs.
Following data review by EPA, the data are used for reporting and made available to the public in the
Great Lakes Environmental Database (GLENDA), and can also be requested from EPA (contact
information is provided on page ii of this report).
1 After the 2016 field season, the GLFMSP concluded a four-year, inter-laboratory comparison study of multiple age enumeration structures to
allow for a more rapid, accurate, and precise measurement of age prior to homogenization (Murphv et al. 2018 V Refer to Section 6 Future
Reporting for more information.
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE | 5

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
Table 1: 2016 Base Monitoring Program Analytical Data Sets
Collection Effort
Analytes
Composites and mega-composites
•	Percent Moisture
•	Mercury
•	PCBs/OCPs/PBDEs/Lipids/Mirex
Composites only
• PFAS
Mega-composites only
•	Dioxins / Furans & Co planar PCB congeners
•	HBCDD
•	CECs
Results generated by all analytical methods were reported on a wet weight basis in accordance with SOPs
(Clarkson University 2016). No mathematical adjustments based on lipid content or fish age were
performed on the 2016 results or as part of the trend analyses presented in this report. Long-term
analytical data in the GLFMSP presented in this report have not been corrected to adjust for fish age ~ the
reason being that fish have only been aged since 2003 as part of the sampling process and historically
were grouped into estimated age composites according to length measurements. To ensure consistency in
how data are reported, publicly available data for GLFMSP are reported as contaminant concentrations
for each composite for a given sampling year at each collection site. Age-corrected data from the
GLFMSP are presented in Pagano et al. (2018) and Zhou et al. (2018).
4 QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL
The GLFMSP operates under a quality management plan (QMP), a QAPP, and numerous SOPs. The
GLFMSP quality management system is defined in the GLFMSP QMP (EPA 2012b). Quality
assurance/quality control (QA/QC) activities and procedures associated with the sample collection,
biological data collection, homogenization, and analysis of fish samples are described in the QAPPs and
SOPs identified in Section 3.
Several types of laboratory QC measures including equipment blanks, standard reference materials, blind
duplicates, method blanks, replicate samples, and surrogate spikes, are implemented at both the
homogenization laboratory and the analytical laboratory to monitor data quality. These measures assist in
identifying and correcting problems as they occur. They also define the quality of data generated by the
program. QC metrics are tailored to specific sample and analytical processes. The analytical laboratory
cooperator's QAPP provides specific QC requirements to identify background contamination and
extraction efficiency and ensure accurate identification and quantification of targeted analytes. If any QC
criteria are not met, the data are reviewed carefully to identify the cause of the problem and determine the
appropriate corrective action. If reanalysis is not warranted, the data are submitted with QC flags to
indicate the nature of the failure.
To date, no major QA/QC issues have been identified through 2016.
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE | 6

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
5 RESULTS
This section summarizes results from 2016 sample collection, biological data collection, and analysis and
presents the 2016 Base Monitoring Program analytical results in context with long-term trends.
5.1 SAMPLE COLLECTION
5.1.1 Base Monitoring Program
A total of 165 lake trout were collected in Lakes Superior, Huron, Michigan, and Ontario and a total of 50
Walleye were collected in Lake Erie in 2016 (Table 2). Due to low availability of lake trout in the target
size range at two collection sites, a total of 19 lake trout were collected at Oswego and a total of 46 lake
trout were collected at Apostle Islands instead of the target 50. Low fish availability at the Oswego site
may have been caused by strong winds at the site during the collection, which can shift the thermocline
and tend to scatter fish.
Table 2: 2016 Base Monitoring Program Field Data
Lake
Site
Species
Date
Depth
(m)
Collection
Method
Field Length
Range (mm)
Field Weight
Range (g)
Erie
(n=50)
Middle Bass
Island
Walleye
November 2016
3.5-4
Gillnet
382-516
494-1501
Huron
(n=50)
Rockport
Lake
Trout
October,
November 2016
2.7-5.6
Gillnet
598-855
2052-6995
Michigan
(n=50)
Saugatuck
Lake
Trout
September 2016
30
Gillnet
574-743
1490-5085
Ontario
(n=19)
Oswego
Lake
Trout
September,
November 2016
15-37
Gillnet
569-767
1940-5356
Superior
(n=46)
Apostle
Islands
Lake
Trout
October 2016
6-15
Gillnet
577-714
1558-3258
5.1.2 Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI)/Special Studies
In 2016, 10 additional lake trout were collected in Lake Superior, from Keweenaw Point (Table 3).
Additional lake trout were not collected from Apostle Islands due to low availability of samples in the
target size range. A total of 356 forage fish were collected from Keweenaw Point and Apostle Islands
(Table 4). Sediment, benthic invertebrates, phytoplankton, zoop 1 ankton/seston. Mysis and water samples
were also collected from both Lake Superior sites during a dedicated Research Vessel (R/V) Lake
Guardian CSMI survey (Table 5).
Table 3: 2016 CSMI Lake Trout Field Data
Lake
Site
Date
Depth (m)
Collection
Method
Field Length
Range (mm)
Field Weight
Range (g)
Superior Keweenaw October, „ ^,,11 ,,,
/ im n • 4. \t u on„c 8 Gillnet 551-683
(n=10) Point November 2016
1400-2850
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE | 7

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
Table 4: 2016 CSMI Forage Fish Field Data
Lake
Site
Species Collected
Date
Depth (m)
Collection
Method
Superior
Apostle
Islands
•	Rainbow Smelt (n=78)
•	Bloater (n=60)
•	Ninespine Stickleback (n=52)
•	Cisco (n=30)
•	Deepwater Sculpin (n=30)
•	Lake Whitefish (n=30)
•	Slimy Sculpin (n=12)
•	Spoonhead Sculpin (n=5)
June 2016
35-135
Bottom Trawl
Superior
Keweenaw
Point
•	Round Whitefish (n=23)
•	Bloater (n=13)
•	Kiyi (n=12)
•	Longnose Sucker (n=10)
•	Burbot (n=l)
June 2016
15-146
Gillnet
Table 5: 2016 CSMI R/V Lake Guardian Collected Field Data
Lake
Site
Sample Type and Sampling
Depth (m)
Date
Collection Method


Water (3 m)
June 2016
Pump
Superior
Apostle Islands
Zo o p 1 a nk to n/ S c s t o n/. \ / vsis
(whole water tow from 68 m)
June 2016
Nested net (153 |im for
zooplankton/seston and 500
|im for \ lysis)
Sediment (69 m)
June 2016
Ponar


Benthic invertebrates (69 m)
June 2016
Benthic sled (500 |im net) &
Ponar grab (separated
through 253 |im sieve)


Water (3 m)
June 2016
Pump
Superior
Keweenaw Point
Zo o p 1 a nk to n/ S c s t o n/. \ /vsis
(whole water tow from 53 m)
June 2016
Nested net (153 |im for
zooplankton/seston and 500
|im for \ lysis)
Sediment (54 m)
June 2016
Ponar


Benthic invertebrates (~50 m)
June 2016
Benthic sled (500 |im net) &
Ponar grab (separated
through 253 |im sieve)
5.2 BIOLOGICAL DATA COLLECTION AND HOMOGENIZATION
Tables 6 and 7 provide a summary of biological data measurements (excluding age results which are
included in Table 8) as recorded by the homogenization laboratory for the 2016 Base Monitoring Program
and CSMI/Special Studies samples.
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE | 8

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
Table 6: 2016 Base Monitoring Program Biological Data
Lake
Site
Species
Lab Length
Range (mm)
Lab Weight
Range (g)
Gender Count
(M,F)
Dominant
Maturity Stagea'b
Erie
(n=50)
Middle Bass
Island
Walleye
381-519
489-1490
31, 19
Mature (62%)
Huron
(n=50)
Rockport
Lake Trout
552-846
2017-6892
23,27
Mature (46%),
Ripe (52%)
Michigan
(n=50)
Saugatuck
Lake Trout
558-738
1466-5027
30, 20
Mature (62%)
Ontario
(n=19)
Oswego
Lake Trout
533-742
1902-5327
9, 10
Gravid (42.1%),
Mature (47.4%)
Superior
(n=46)
Apostle
Islands
Lake Trout
423-702
1528-3220
40,6
Mature (87%)
aMature = fish is sexually mature (egg deposition status is either unknown, unimportant, or nonapplicable); Ripe =
ovary is full of eggs that are ready for deposition and fertilization (ovary wall structure weakened or broken, eggs
escape upon external palpation); Gravid = ovary is full of eggs that are not yet ready for deposition or fertilization
(eggs still contained within ovary wall structure)
h % = percent of total number offish collected at each site
Table 7: 2016 CSMI/Special Studies Lake Trout Biological Data
Lake
Site
Species
Lab Length
Range
(mm)
Lab
Weight
Range (g)
Gender
Count (M,
F)
Dominant
Maturity Stage
Superior „ . Lake
, , Keweenaw Point
(n=10) Trout
560-669 1308-2716 10,0 Mature (100%) a-b
aMature = fish is sexually mature (egg deposition status is either unknown, unimportant, or nonapplicable)
b % = percent of total number offish collected at each site
Table 8 provides a summary of age data for 2016 Base Monitoring Program and CSMI/Special Studies
lake trout samples. Age results included in the table were determined based on annuli enumeration of
otoliths and on CWTs. The dominant aging method used to obtain the final age for each fish is listed.
Final age was determined based on CWT where available and then based on annuli enumeration of otolith
if no CWT was present. No Walleye from Middle Bass Island exceeded the target age range of 4-5 years.
The majority of Lake Trout exceeded the target age range of 6-8 years in Rockport (70%) and Apostle
Islands (60%), while 40% exceeded the age range in Keweenaw Point, 22% exceeded the age range in
Saugatuck, and 11% exceeded the age range in Oswego. It would be expected that fish exceeding the age
range may have higher contaminant concentrations due to longer exposure times (i.e., bioaccumulation)
of the environmental contaminants.
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE | 9

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
Table 8: 2016 Age Data (Base Monitoring Program and CSMI/Special Studies Lake Trout)
Lake
Site
Species
Age Range
(years)
Dominant Aging
Method
Percent of Fish
Exceeding Target
Age Range
Erie
(n=50)
Middle Bass
Island
Walleye
2-4
Otolith
0%
Huron
(n=50)
Rockport
Lake Trout
5-18
Otolith
70%
Michigan
(n=50)
Saugatuck
Lake Trout
4-16
Otolith, CWT
22%
Ontario
(n=19)
Oswego
Lake Trout
4-11
CWT
11%
Superior
(n=46)
Apostle Islands
Lake Trout
6-22
Otolith
60%
Superior
(n=10)
Keweenaw
Point
Lake Trout
8-11
Otolith
40%
Lake Trout age was also determined based on annuli enumeration of maxillae as part of the four-year,
inter-laboratory comparison study of multiple age enumeration structures described in Section 3.2
(Murphy et al. 2018). Information on maxilla age results for 2016 samples as well as 2013-2015 samples
is presented in the Journal of Great Lakes Research publication "Revised fish aging techniques improve
fish contaminant trend analyses in the face of changing Great Lakes food webs" (Murphy et al. 2018).
5.3 ANALYSIS
The sections below summarize results for five contaminants (PCBs, PBDEs, mercury, HBCDD, and
PFAS) in fish collected for the Base Monitoring Program in 2016, places these results in context with
long-term trends, and present results from the CEC screening analyses performed on these samples. The
2016 CSMI/Special Studies Program analytical results will be presented in future GLFMSP reports.
Due to low sample numbers at Oswego, as stated in Section 3.2. the number of fish assigned to
composites varied to minimize age variability. The calculation of abundance weighted means (i.e.,
weighted based on the number of fish per composite) and standard errors for the 2016 Oswego data
mitigates the impact of the varying number of fish per composite; however, there could still be some
comparability concerns when evaluating composite results across years at this site.
As stated in Section 3.2. one composite from Apostle Islands contained only one fish instead of the target
five. This composite was analyzed for all contaminants but was not included in site means presented in
this report.
5.3.1 PCBs
The GLFMSP provides long-term data trends for PCBs in Lake Trout and Walleye from the 1970s -
present. Prior to 1991, methods and target congeners varied. In this report, PCB trends for even year sites
from 1992- 2016 are presented as these are the date ranges for which the current sampling design (i.e., 10
composites of five fish with sites alternating within each lake annually) has been implemented.
Site mean total PCB concentrations ranged from 136 to 628 ng/g across the five sites (Table 9) in 2016.
Mean total PCB concentrations were calculated based on 142 out of 209 individual PCB congeners.
Measured results were not censored based on reporting or detection limits and all reported results were
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE | 10

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
included in the totals. In general, mean total PCB concentrations have exhibited a decreasing trend at all
sites over both the 2006 - 2016 (Table 9) and 1992-2016 (Table 9 and Figure 2) time frames.
Estimated declines since 2006 are statistically significant at all sites and range from 30% at Saugatuck to
76% at Apostle Islands. Estimated PCB declines since 1992 are statistically significant and range from
65% at Middle Bass Island to 81% at Rockport.
Table 9: Summary of 2016 Total PCB Site Means and Temporal Trends
Lake
Site
#
Composites
Species
2016 Site Means
Total PCB
Concentration
(standard error)
(ng/g)
Estimated
% Decline
1992-2016
(95% CI
LL- UL)d
Estimated
% Decline
2006-2016
(95% CI
LL-UL)
Erie
Middle
Bass
Island
10
Walleye
488 (40.0)
65 (57 - 72)
33 (17 -45)
Huron
Rockport
10
Lake
Trout
355 (70.4)
81 (77 -84)
57 (38 -70)
Michigan
Saugatuck
10
Lake
Trout
610 (118)
80 (75 - 83)
30 (6 - 49)
Ontario
Oswego
6 a
Lake
Trout
628 (101)°
81 (78 -83)
46 (30 - 58)
Superior
Apostle
Islands
9 b
Lake
Trout
136 (24.7)
77 (68 - 84)
76 (65 - 83)
a Composites included 2-4 fish each to minimize age variability within a composite
b Based on 9 composites of 5 fish (single fish composite not included)
c Site mean is weighted based on number of fish per composite
dCILL-UL indicates confidence inten'al lower level-upper level
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE | 11

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
Figure 2. Mean Total PCB Concentration (ppb) in Lake Trout/Walleye 1992-2016.
Notes: 1) Stations are not representative of the entire lake.
2)A	missing bar = samples not collected for that site/year.
3)	An asterisk (*) indicates less than 5 composites are included in the sampling period.
4)	Lake Trout were collected in all lakes except Lake Erie.
5)	The last two digits of collection years are displayed above corresponding bars as 'XX.
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE j 12

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
5.3.2 PBDEs
The GLFMSP began monitoring for PBDEs using congener-specific analyses in 2000, with a complete
set of analyses for most lakes available beginning in 2002.
Site mean total PBDE concentrations ranged from 9.75 to 45.1 ng/g across the five sites (Table 10) in
2016. Mean total PBDE concentrations were calculated based on five congeners (47, 99, 100, 153, and
154) that have been analyzed consistently across all years. These are the only PBDE congeners that have
been consistently measured by GLFMSP and are the PBDE congeners found in the highest concentrations
in Great Lakes fish (Zhou et al. 2017). Measured results were not censored based on reporting or
detection limits and all reported results were included in the totals. Mean total PBDE concentrations
showed a statistically significant decline at all sites over the 2006-2016 time series (Table 10) and range
from 20% at Middle Bass Island to 58% at Apostle Islands.
Estimated total PBDE concentration declines over the 2002-2016 time series (Table 10 and Figure 3) are
statistically significant at all Lake Trout sites and range from 48% at Apostle Islands to 66% at
Saugatuck. The 16% decline in PBDE concentration in Walleye at Middle Bass Island since 2002 is not
statistically significant.
Table 10: Summary of 2016 Total PBDE (5 congeners) Site Means and Temporal Trends
Lake
Site
#
Composites
Species
2016 Total PBDE
Site Mean
Concentration
(standard error)
(ng/g)
Estimated %
Decline d
2002-2016
(95% CI LL-
UL)*
Estimated %
Decline
2006-2016
(95% CI LL-
UL)
Erie
Middle
Bass Island
10
Walleye
9.75 (0.931)
16 (-4-31)
20 (2 - 34)
Huron
Rockport
10
Lake Trout
32.0 (6.20)
59 (41 - 72)
40 (6-61)
Michigan
Saugatuck
10
Lake Trout
41.9(8.51)
66 (52 - 76)
41 (19-58)
Ontario
Oswego
6a
Lake Trout
45.1 (12.4)°
51 (33 -64)
40 (18 - 56)
Superior
Apostle
Islands
9 b
Lake Trout
37.7 (8.70)
48 (24 - 64)
58 (38 - 72)
a Composites included 2-4 fish each to minimize age variability within a composite
h Based on 9 composites of 5 fish (single fish composite not included)
c Site mean is weighted based on number of fish per composite
dA negative percent decline of—X% corresponds to a percent increase ofX%
e CILL-UL indicates confidence inten'al lower level-upper level
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE | 13

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
Figure 3. Mean Total PBDE (5 Congeners) Concentration (ppb) in Lake Trout/Walleye 2002-2016.
Notes: 1) Stations are not representative of the entire lake.
2)	»l: missing bar = samples not collected for that site/year.
3)	An asterisk (*) indicates less than 5 composites are included in the sampling period.
4)	Lake Trout were collected in all lakes except Lake Erie.
5)	The last two digits of collection years are displayed above corresponding bars as
6)	Total PBDE = sum of congeners 47, 99, 100, 153, and 154.
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE j 14

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
5.3.3 Mercury
The GLFMSP began monitoring for total mercury in 1999. Mean total mercury concentrations are shown
at all even-year sampling sites from 2000-2016 in Figure 4.
Site mean mercury concentrations ranged from 93 to 170 ng/g across the five sites (Table 11) in 2016. In
general, mean mercury concentrations showed a statistically significant decline over the 2006-2016 time
series (Table 11) at Rockport and Apostle Islands. At Saugatuck, a statistically significant increase of
24% was exhibited from 2006 - 2016. Mercury concentrations in 2006 at Saugatuck were the lowest
reported for the time series, which could explain the increasing trend observed from 2006-2016. Since
2000, only Apostle Islands had a statistically significant decline in mercury concentrations (56%). No
statistically significant changes in the concentrations of mercury have been detected for Middle Bass
Island or Oswego since 2006. While the other four sites, i.e., Middle Bass Island, Rockport, Saugatuck,
and Oswego, exhibited an increase in mercury concentrations for the 2000-2016 time frame (ranging from
1% at Middle Bass Island to 6% at Rockport), none were statistically significant (Table 11). Increasing
age of Lake Trout collected at Saugatuck and Rockport may explain the lack of trends over the entire time
period (Zhou et al. 2017). Refer to section 5.2 for discussion of correlation between fish age and
contaminant concentrations.
Table 11: Summary of 2016 Total Mercury Site Means and Temporal Trends
Lake
Site
#
Composites
Species
2016 Total
Mercury Site
Mean
Concentration
(standard error)
(ng/g)
Estimated %
Decline d
2000-2016
(95% CI LL-
UL)e
Estimated %
Decline d
2006-2016
(95% CI LL-
UL)
Erie
Middle Bass
Island
10
Walleye
93 (5.0)
-1 (-15 to 11)
5 (-9 to 17)
Huron
Rockport
10
Lake Trout
170(14)
-6 (-32 to 15)
35 (17 to 49)
Michigan
Saugatuck
10
Lake Trout
170(11)
-5 (-25 to 11)
-24 (-44 to -6)
Ontario
Oswego
6a
Lake Trout
150 (23)°
-4 (-22 to 11)
-12 (-37 to 8)
Superior
Apostle Islands
9 b
Lake Trout
130 (6.4)
56 (46 to 65)
51 (39 to 61)
a Composites included 2-4 fish each to minimize age variability within a composite
h Based on 9 composites of 5 fish (single fish composite not included)
c Site mean is weighted based on number of fish per composite
dA negative percent decline of—X% corresponds to a percent increase ofX%
e CILL-UL indicates confidence inten'al lower level-upper level
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE | 15

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
Saugatuck ^
Middle Bass
Island (walleye
GLFMSP Collection Site
Apostle Islands
500
300
200
100
100
500
400 -
300 -
200
100
500 -
400
300
200-
100
0 -
Rockport








Oswego
"I
300 km
Figure 4. Mean Total Mercury Concentration (ppb) in Lake Trout/Walleye 2000-2016.
Notes; 1) Stations are not representative of the entire lake.
2)	A missing bar = samples not collected for that site/year.
3)	An asterisk (*) indicates less than 5 composites are included in the sampling period.
4)	Lake Trout were collected in all takes except Lake Erie.
5)	The last two digits of collection years are displayed above corresponding bars as 'XX.
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE j 16

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
5.3.4 HBCDD
The GLFMSP added analysis of three HBCDD isomers in mega-composite samples to the program in
2012, beginning with analysis of samples that were originally collected in 2010. Four years of data (2010,
2012, 2014, and 2016) are available for even-year sites. Because the six-year time period is not sufficient
to allow for a meaningful evaluation of trends, temporal trends for total HBCDD concentration are not
evaluated in this report. However, each mega-composite sample was analyzed for three HBCDD isomers
in triplicate, such that site means and associated analytical variability could be calculated. Total HBCDD
mega-composite means range from 3.34 ng/g at Middle Bass Island to 7.15 ng/g at Saugatuck (Table 12)
in 2016. Mean total HBCDD concentrations were calculated based on the three analyzed HBCDD
isomers. Measured results were not censored based on reporting or detection limits and all reported results
were included in the totals. Mean total HBCDD concentration was highest at Rockport and lowest at
Middle Bass Island.
Table 12: Summary of 2016 Total HBCDD Mega-composite Means
Lake
Site
# Replicatesa
Species
2016 Total HBCDD
Mega-composite
Concentration
(standard error)
(ng/g)
Erie
Middle Bass Island
3
Walleye
3.34 (0.05)
Huron
Rockport
3
Lake Trout
10.3 (0.08)
Michigan
Saugatuck
3
Lake Trout
7.15 (0.04)
Ontario
Oswego
3
Lake Trout
6.11 (0.44)
Superior
Apostle Islands
3
Lake Trout
6.50 (0.10)
a Single mega-composite samples were analyzed in triplicate (so variability estimates include analytical variability
but not sampling variability, which is included in the calculated standard errors for other analyte classes presented
in this report)
5.3.5 PFAS
The GLFMSP began monitoring PFAS compounds in 2011. The list of analyzed PFAS compounds has
varied since 2011. In 2016, monitored PFAS compounds included 26 perfluorinated carboxylic acids and
sulfonates with 4 to 13 carbons, including 10 branched isomers. In recent years, including 2016, the
method used to quantify PFAS was modified to improve reproducibility in complex biological tissues
(Point et al. 2019). Due to the evolving analytical methodology and smaller number of composites
analyzed, it is not appropriate at this time to assess temporal trends for PFAS compounds. Table 13 shows
total PFAS and Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) site mean concentrations and their associated
standard errors for the composites that were analyzed at each site. Because the PFAS analysis scheme was
generally consistent across sites, the mean concentrations can be compared to each other, even if each one
is a low-biased estimate. As seen in Table 13. total PFAS and PFOS concentrations are generally highest
at Middle Bass Island and Oswego, and lowest at Apostle Islands. Mean total PFAS concentrations were
calculated based on the 16 PFAS compounds that were analyzed, excluding branched isomers. Measured
results were not censored based on reporting or detection limits and all reported results were included in
the totals.
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE | 17

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
Table 13: Summary of 2016 Total PFAS and PFOS Composite Means
Lake
Site
#
Composites
Species
2016 Total PFAS
Mega-composite
Concentration
(standard error)
(ng/g)
2016 PFOS
Composite Mean
(standard error)
(ng/g)
Erie
Middle Bass
Island
3
Walleye
69.5 (12.7)
61.0(11.9)
Huron
Rockport
3
Lake Trout
30.5 (4.9)
18.8 (2.8)
Michigan
Saugatuck
3
Lake Trout
32.0 (2.1)
27.5 (1.7)
Ontario
Oswego
3
Lake Trout
69.7 (2.0)
63.4 (1.9)
Superior
Apostle Islands
3
Lake Trout
11.4(0.77)
5.5 (0.39)
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE | 18

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
5.3.6 Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs)
Since 2014, Base Monitoring Program mega-composites samples have been screened for CECs. Initial
screening studies have been focused on detecting organic compounds that contain one or more chlorine or
bromine atom. Historically, organic chemicals containing carbon bonded to chlorine or bromine have
been found to be bioaccumulative and to potentially exhibit adverse effects on lake biota (e.g., PCBs,
OCPs, PBDEs) (Howard and Muir 2010).
The most abundant compound class identified in the CEC screenings performed on the 2016 samples is
the halomethoxyphenols. This class of compounds accounts for more than 60% of the total halogenated
compound concentration in top predator fish from all five Great Lakes. The halomethoxyphenols
represent a greater contribution to the total body burden of halogenated species than legacy PCBs (Figure
6). Methoxyphenols are also known as guaiacols. As a compound class, halomethoxyphenols include
chlorinated guaiacols, as well as methoxyphenols containing other halogens such as bromine and iodine.
Little is known about the effects of this class of compounds in fish.
7000
6000
5000
~ 4000
3000
2000
1000
PCBs (monitored)
Other Halo-organics (monitored)*
Halomethoxyphenols (not monitored)*1
Halo-organics (not monitored)**
Figure 5. Concentrations of Halogenated Compound Classes in GLFMSP Mega-composite Samples
from 2016. * Includes PBDEs and OCPs. ** Compound classes not currently on the Base Monitoring
Program analyte list but discovered via screening for CECs. Concentrations were determined using
reference standards where available or structurally similar compounds.
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE | 19

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
6 FUTURE REPORTING
A decreasing rate of decline for total PCB concentrations in Lake Huron Lake Trout was observed
beginning in 2000. Upon further assessment, the slowing decline was found to be related to fish age. In
2013, the GLFMSP revised its compositing scheme to ensure fish were group according to age, rather
than by length, prior to homogenization and chemical analysis. The revised age assignment procedure was
warranted in the face of observed changes in Great Lakes food web structure. These changes can drive
declines in fish growth rates and thus impact bioaccumulation potential of contaminants in top predator
species such as Lake Trout and Walleye (Zhou et al. 2018). A four-year, inter-laboratory comparison of
multiple age enumeration structures was completed in 2017 to select the best measurement of fish age
(Murphy et al. 2018). The maxilla bone was determined to be the most precise, accurate, and rapidly
assessed structure for fish age determinations for the GLFMSP, based on comparisons between age
enumeration structures and the known fish age from the CWT. Use of Lake Trout and Walleye maxilla
for GLFMSP aging commenced in 2017, and fish ages presented in subsequent GLFMSP technical
reports will be based on this aging estimation method. Additional CSMI/Special Studies analytical results
will also be presented in future GLFMSP technical reports.
7 SUMMARY
The 2016 GLFMSP Technical Report details sampling information from the 2016 Base Monitoring
Program and 2016 CSMI, assesses data and trends through 2016, and shows that concentrations of several
contaminants are decreasing in Great Lakes top predator fish. Key highlights include:
•	Mean total PCB concentrations in fish declined at all sites since 1992;
•	Mean total PBDE concentrations in fish declined at all sites since 2002; and
•	Mercury concentrations in fish declined at the Rockport, Lake Huron and Apostle Islands, Lake
Superior sites since 2006, but increased at the Saugatuck, Lake Michigan site.
Declines in mean total PCB concentrations are shown to be statistically significant in both short-term
(2006-2016) and long-term (1992-2016) timeframes. Declines in mean total PBDE concentrations are
shown to be statistically significant in both short-term (2006-2016) and long-term (2002-2016). However,
the short-term decline in mean total PBDE concentrations at Middle Bass Island, Lake Erie was not
statistically significant. Declines in mean total mercury concentrations are shown to be statistically
significant over the past ten years (2000-2016) at the Rockport, Lake Huron site, and the Apostle Islands,
Lake Superior site. Increases in mean total mercury concentrations are shown to be statistically significant
at the Saugatuck, Lake Michigan site, and no statistically significant changes were observed at the Middle
Bass Island, Lake Erie site or the Oswego, Lake Ontario site. Currently, there are not enough years of data
to evaluate trends for HBCDD or PFAS.
REFERENCES
Aquatec Biological Sciences, Inc., 2016. Great Lakes Fish Monitoring and Surveillance Program
Standard Operating Procedure.
Clarkson University, 2016. Quality Assurance Project Plan for the Great Lakes Fish Monitoring and
Surveillance Program (GLFMSP): Expanding the Boundaries.
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Action Plan III, 2019.
https ://www.epa. gov/sites/production/files/2019-10/documents/glri-action-plan-3 -201910-
30pp.pdf.
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE | 20

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA), 2012. Canada-United States.
https://binational.net//wp-content/uploads/2014/05/1094 Canada-USA-GLWOA- e.pdf. 1-56.
Howard, P.H., Muir, D.C.G., 2010. Identifying new persistent and bioaccumulative organics among
chemicals in commerce. Environmental Science and Technology. 44 (7), 2277-2285.
McGoldrick, D.J., Murphy, E.W., 2016. Concentration and distribution of contaminants in lake trout and
walleye from the Laurentian Great Lakes (2008-2012). Environmental Pollution. 217, 85-96.
Murphy, E.W., Smith, M.L., He, J.X., Wellenkamp, W., Barr, E., Downey, P.C., Miller, K.M., Meyer,
K.A., 2018. Revised fish aging techniques improve fish contaminant trend analyses in the face of
changing Great Lakes food webs. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 44, 725-734.
Pagano, J.J, Garner, A.J., McGoldrick, D.J., Crimmins, B.S., Hopke, P.K., Milligan, M.S. Milligan,
Holsen, T., 2018. Age corrected trends and toxic equivalence of PCDD/F and CP-PCBs in Lake
Trout from the Great Lakes: 2004-2014. Environmental Science and Technology. 52, 712-721.
Point, A., Holsen, T., Fernando, S., Hopke, P., Crimmins, B., 2019. Towards the development of a
standardized method for extraction and analysis of PFAS in biological tissues. Environmental
Science: Water Research and Technology. 5, 1876-1886.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 2012a. Great Lakes Fish Monitoring and Surveillance
Program (GLFMSP): Quality Assurance Project Plan for Sample Collection Activities.
https ://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-
02/documents/glfmsp qapp version 2 111312 merged 508 O.pdf
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 2012b. Great Lakes Fish Monitoring and Surveillance
Program (GLFMSP): Quality Management Plan.
https ://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-
02/documents/glfmsp qmp version 2 final 111312 508.pdf.
Zhou, C., Pagano, J., Crimmins, B.A., Hopke, P.K., Milligan, M.S., Murphy, E.W., Holsen, T.M., 2018.
Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides concentration patterns and trends in top
predator fish of Laurentian Great Lakes from 1999-2014. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 44,
716-724.
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE | 21

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
APPENDIX A - LIST OF RECENT GLFMSP PUBLICATIONS
The following is a list of GLFMSP publications produced between 2016 and 2019.
Crimmins, B.S., Holsen, T.M., 2019. Non-targeted Screening in Environmental Monitoring Programs.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology: Advancements of Mass Spectrometry in
Biomedical Research. 1140, 731-741.
Crimmins, B.S., McCarty, H.B., Fernando, S., Milligan, M.S., Pagano, J.J., Holsen, T.M., Hopke, P.K.,
2018. Commentary: Integrating Non-targeted and Targeted Screening in Great Lakes Fish
Monitoring Programs. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 44, 1127-1135.
Dupree, E.J., Crimmins, B.S., Holsen, T.M., Darie, C.C., 2019. Developing Well-Annotated Species-
Specific Protein Databases Using Comparative Proteogenomics. Advances in Experimental
Medicine and Biology: Advancements of Mass Spectrometry in Biomedical Research. 1140, 389-
400.
Dupree, E.J., Crimmins, B.S., Holsen, T.M., Darie, C.C., 2019. Proteomic analysis of the lake trout
(Salvelinus namaycush) liver identifies proteins from evolutionarily close and -distant fish
relatives. Proteomics. 19(24), el800429. DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201800429
Fakouri Baygi, S., Crimmins, B.S., Hopke, P.K., Holsen, T.M., 2016. Comprehensive Emerging
Chemical Discovery: Perfluorinated and Polyfluorinated Compounds in Lake Michigan Trout.
Environmental Science and Technology. 50, 9460-9468.
Fernando, S., Renaguli, A., Milligan, M., Pagano, J., Hopke, P., Holsen, T., Crimmins, B., 2018.
Comprehensive Analysis of the Great Lakes Top Predator Fish for Novel Halogenated Organic
Contaminants by GCxGC-HR-ToF. Environmental Science and Technology. 52, 2909-2917.
Garner, A.J., Pagano, J.J., 2019. Trends of polychlorinated dioxins, polychlorinated furans, and dioxin-
like polychlorinated biphenyls in Chinook and Coho salmonid eggs from a Great Lakes tributary.
Environmental Pollution. 247, 1039-1045.
Hites, R.A., Holsen, T.M., 2019. Temporal trends of PCBs and DDTs in Great Lakes fish compared to
those in air. Science of the Total Environment. 646, 1413-1418.
Lepak, R.F., Hoffman, J.C., Janssen, S.E., Krabbenhoft, D.P., Ogorek, J.M., DeWild J.F., Tate, M.T.,
Babiarz, C.L., Yin, R., Murphy, E.W., Engstrom, D.R., Hurley, J.P., 2019. Mercury source
changes and food web shifts alter contamination signatures of predatory fish from Lake
Michigan. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 116(47), 23600-23608.
McGoldrick, D.J., Murphy, E.W., 2016. Concentration and distribution of contaminants in lake trout and
walleye from the Laurentian Great Lakes (2008-2012). Environmental Pollution. 217, 85-96.
Murphy, E.W., Smith, M.L., He, J.X., Wellenkamp, W., Barr, E., Downey, P.C., Miller, K.M., Meyer,
K.A., 2018. Revised fish aging techniques improve fish contaminant trend analyses in the face of
changing Great Lakes food webs. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 44, 725-734.
Pagano, J.J, Garner, A.J., McGoldrick, D.J., Crimmins, B.S., Hopke, P.K., Milligan, M.S. Milligan,
Holsen, T., 2018. Age Corrected Trends and Toxic Equivalence of PCDD/F and CP-PCBs in
Lake Trout from the Great Lakes: 2004-2014. Environmental Science and Technology. 52, 712-
721.
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE | A-l

-------
GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TECHNICAL REPORT
Point, A., Holsen, T., Fernando, S., Hopke, P., Crimmins, B., 2019. Towards the development of a
standardized method for extraction and analysis of PFAS in biological tissues. Environmental
Science: Water Research and Technology. 5, 1876-1886.
Williams, M., Murphy, E., McCarty, H., Snyder, B., Schrank, McCann, P., Crimmins, B., 2017. Variation
in essential fatty acids EPA and DHA in fish fillets of fish from the Great Lakes region. Journal
of Great Lakes Research. 43, 150-160.
Wu, Y., Tan, H., Zhou, C., Crimmins, B.S., Holsen, T.M., Chen, D., 2018. Bioaccumulation and
Spatiotemporal Trends of Polyhalogenated Carbazoles in Great Lakes Fish from 2004 to 2016.
Environmental Science and Technology. 52, 4536-4545.
Wu, Y., Tan, H., Zhou, C., Crimmins, B.S., Holsen, T.M., Chen, D., 2019. Spatial and Temporal Trends
(2004 - 2016) of Alternative Flame Retardants in Great Lakes Fish - A Story After the
Discontinuation of PBDEs for More Than A Decade. Environmental Science and Technology.
53, 1786-1796.
Zhou, C., Cohen, M., Crimmins, B., Zhou, H., Johnson, T., Hopke, P., Holsen, T., 2017. Mercury
Temporal Trends in Top Predator Fish of the Laurentian Great Lakes from 2004 to 2015: Are
Concentrations Still Decreasing? Environmental Science and Technology. DOI:
10.1021/acs.est.7b00982
Zhou, C., Pagano, J., Crimmins, B.A., Hopke, P.K., Milligan, M.S., Murphy, E.W., Holsen, T.M., 2018.
Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides concentration patterns and trends in top
predator fish of Laurentian Great Lakes from 1999-2014. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 44,
716-724.
Zhou, C., Pagano, J. McGoldrick, D., Chen, D., Crimmins, B., Hopke, P., Milligan, M., Murphy, E.,
Holsen, T., 2019. Legacy Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) Trends in Top Predator Fish
of the Laurentian Great Lakes (GL) from 1979 to 2016: Will Concentrations Continue to
Decrease? Environmental Science and Technology. 53, 6650-6659.
FEBRUARY 2021
PAGE | A-2

-------