[This dataset is embargoed until March 1, 2027]. The data contains basic information and chemical analysis data about all the fish collected for the National Fish Tissue Archive between 2007 and 2025. - Basic data (species, weight, length and condition factor as well as sampling locations and dates) are available for more than 2,400 individuals - Chemical analysis data (metals, PCBs, PBDEs and organochlorine pesticides, dry weight or lipid content) are included for 229 individuals (160 roach, 34 bleak and 35 eels, collected between 2007 and 2016). The analyses were done on subsets of the samples, thus not all parameters are available for all individuals. For the National Fish Tissue Archive freshwater fish, have been collected annually from a number of English rivers since 2007. Up to the end of 2025 this comprised: - 2,244 roach (Rutilus rutilus). Collection of roach is ongoing since 2007 - 188 common bleak (Alburnus alburnus). Only collected in 2007 and 2008 - 36 European eels (Anguilla Anguilla). Only collected in 2007 The samples are kept in long-term storage at -70 to -80°C and (sub)samples may be made available for collaborative research on request. Whether a request for physical material is granted is decided on merit on a case-by-case basis. Most samples are intact whole fish, but about 10% have been divided into subsamples, usually after being homogenized by cryogrinding. Some of the subsamples were analysed for a number of chemical contaminants (see above) and those results are made available in the database. In most cases further subsamples are still available for future analysis. The rivers from which the fish were collected are Thames, Anker, Glen, Bourne Eau (trib. of Glen), Nene, Kennet, Lee, Stort. While some rivers were only sampled once (Kennet, Bourne Eau, Glen), others were intended to be sampled annually, although this was not always possible due to external factors (e.g. excessively high or low flows, restrictions due to the Covid19 pandemic, equipment failures, insufficient roach numbers etc). Funded by NERC as part of National Capability within the UKSCaPE project and its predecessors. The project is ongoing, thus further data can be made available from the authors and an update will be published when appropriate. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/86c928cf-c87c-4d99-a02b-cc10d8f34853
