In a context of global efforts to tackle malnutrition worldwide, it is of paramount importance to gather information on local food items. This is to help design sustainable and quality-oriented diets for the future. Prevalence of malnutrition (including malnourishment and obesity) is of special concern in Pacific Islands Countries and Territories (PICTs). Fresh fish is a cornerstone of a healthy diet, representing an important source of essential micro-/macro-nutrients. However, fish also account for a significant route of human exposure to heavy metals. To quantify the trade-off between health risk and benefits of fish consumption, the concentration of 16 elements were measured through ICP Mass Spectrometry (V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Pb) and ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry (P, Mg, Ca, K) in the flesh of 14 reef fish species sampled form 4 sites around New Caledonia. Strong significant differences were found between species and along trophic levels, highlighting the importance of considering species when exploring spatial variation. Spatial variation in heavy metals were found to be proportional to the site’s impact characteristic. A significant negative correlation was found between essential nutrients (P, K, Se) and all other metals. According to toxicological thresholds established by the major food authorities (JECFA, EFSA), fish in New Caledonia does not represent a significant exposure risk for human consumers.
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