Distribution of cadmium, mercury, and lead in different body parts of Baltic herring (Clupea harengus) and perch (Perca fluviatilis): implications for environmental status assessments.

•Good Environmental Status (GES) is assessed based on whole fish body concentrations.•Heavy metals were analyzed in different parts of herring and perch body.•Conversion factors between these tissues were calculated and applied to assess GES.•GES in herring improved compared to assessments using muscle/liver concentrations.•Status assessments must reflect whole fish concentrations, not only sampled tissues.