Imposex in the whelks Buccinum undatum and Neptunea antiqua from the west coast of Scotland

Whelks, Buccinum undatum and Neptunea antiqua, collected from three sites on the west coast of Scotland during 1997 showed varying degrees of imposex. Both the incidence of imposex and the degree of imposex development in individuals was greater in N. antiqua than in B. undatum. The results probably reflect long-term contamination of sediments with tributyltin (TBT) originating from inputs prior to its prohibition for use as an antifoulant on small boats and salmon nets in 1987, but indicate the potential for use of these deeper water whelks as bioindicators of continuing TBT pollution. The levels of imposex found were not such as to affect the fishery potential of the species in Scottish west coast waters.