Mercury (Hg) is a toxic metal that threatens the health of aquatic ecosystems and fish consumers. Its natural cycle has been deeply perturbed by Anthropogenic Hg emissions have deeply perturbed its natural cycle, especially since the start of the Industrial Revolution circa 1850 CE. Anthropogenic Hg emissions from North America and Europe have decreased by a factor of two in the last decades following the implementation of strict regulations. The response of North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean waters to this decrease remains poorly documented by field observations. A comparison of results obtained between 1989 and 2012 shows a significant decrease of Hg concentrations in waters on both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar. West of Gibraltar, the Hg decrease ranges from ∼35 % in the upper North East Atlantic Deep Water to ∼50 % in the North East Atlantic Central Water. East of Gibraltar, the observed decrease is ∼30 % in the Western Mediterranean Deep Water. No decrease is observed in the deep Atlantic Ocean layer that formed before the industrial era. These results strongly substantiate the effectiveness of global anti-pollution policies on Hg contamination in oceanic waters. A consequent decline of Hg bioaccumulation in Northeastern Atlantic and Western Mediterranean pelagic ecosystems still requires verification.

汞（Hg）是一种有毒金属，威胁着水生生态系统和鱼类消费者的健康。人为的汞排放深深地扰乱了它的自然循环，特别是自公元1850年工业革命开始以来，它的自然循环受到了极大的干扰。实施严格的法规后，在过去的几十年中，北美和欧洲的人为汞排放量减少了两倍。北大西洋和地中海水域对这一下降的反应仍然很难通过实地观察得到证明。对1989年至2012年获得的结果进行的比较显示，直布罗陀海峡两岸水域中的汞含量显着下降。直布罗陀以西，汞的下降幅度从东北大西洋深水区的约35％到东北大西洋中央水区的约50％。在直布罗陀东部，在西地中海深水区观测到的减少量约为30％。在工业时代之前形成的大西洋深层没有观察到减少。这些结果大大证实了全球反污染政策对海洋汞污染的有效性。东北大西洋和西地中海中上层生态系统中汞生物积累的相应下降仍需要核实。这些结果大大证实了全球反污染政策对海洋汞污染的有效性。东北大西洋和西地中海中上层生态系统中汞生物积累的相应下降仍需要核实。这些结果大大证实了全球反污染政策对海洋汞污染的有效性。东北大西洋和西地中海中上层生态系统中汞生物积累的相应下降仍然需要核实。