Evidence for impaired reproduction in white croaker ( Genyonemus lineatus) from contaminated areas off Southern California

Thousands of tons of contaminants were dumped into the coastal waters off Los Angeles in the last 40 years. Contaminant exposure has been implicated in the declines in catches of several sport and commercial fishes. Laboratory spawning studies demonstrated that white croaker (Sciaenidae: Genyonemus lineatus) inhabiting contaminated areas near Los Angeles had higher chlorinated hydrocarbon body burdens, greater early oocyte destruction and preovulatory atresia, lower batch fecundities, and lower fertilization rates than fish from a reference area 80 km away.