An assessment of the present state of pollution by mercury in the Mediterranean Sea, together with proposed control measures, was carried out by UNEP, FAO and WHO in late 1983. this assessment was mainly performed on the basis of results obtained during the pilot project on baseline studies and monitoring of metals (particularly mercury and cadmium) in marine organisms, organized jointly by FAO and UNEP within the framework of the Joint Coordinated programme of Pollution Monitoring and Research in the Mediterranean Sea (MED POL Phase I) between 1975 and 1980. This study confirmed the previous conclusions that the general Mediterranean population did not appear to be at risk, and recommended that, for this reason, the imposition of upper limits for mercury concentrations in seafood on a common regional basis did not appear to be justified at the present stage.