Heavy metal pollution of waters is a major environmental problem. Due to their toxicity, long
persistence, bioaccumulative and nonbiodegradable properties in the food chain, heavy metals
constitute a core group of aquatic pollutants. Capoeta trutta is an economically important fish and the
object of significant commercial fishery in the Munzur River. Levels of Cu were measured in samples of
the muscle, gill and liver tissues of C. trutta from Munzur River. In liver copper levels were higher at
Station I (6.15 mg kg-1) polluted by domestic waste than Station II (5.48 mg kg-1) (P<0.05). The highest
copper level (7.25 mg kg-1) was measured in muscle tissue at Station II. There was found no statically
differences between stations in gill and muscle (P>0.05). It is suggested that ecological condition of
freshwater fish and contamination levels in Munzur River must be regularly monitored
