Polybrominated　diphenyl　ethers　(PBDEs)　and　their　alternatives　(e.g.,　dechlorane　plus　(DPs)　and　decabromodiphenyl　ethane　(DBDPE))　are　ubiquitous　in　various　environmental　media.　However,　limited　data　is　available　on　these　chemicals　in　edible　fish　species　from　the　wide-open　South　China　Sea　(SCS).　In　the　present　study,　ten　legacy　PBDEs　and　three　substitutions　(DBDPE　and　two　DPs)　were　analyzed　in　16　wild　fish　species　sampled　from　the　open　SCS　to　investigate　their　spatial　and　species-specific　variations.　The　results　showed　that　the　total　concentrations　of　PBDEs,　DBDPE,　and　DPs　in　fish　samples　were　in　the　range　of　1.69–47.6,　not　detected　(nd)　to　21.0,　and　nd　to　3.80　ng/g　lipid　weight　(lw),　respectively.　BDEs　47,　209　and　100　were　the　dominant　target　PBDE　congeners,　representing　49.2%,　17.2%　and　9.93%　of　the　total　PBDE　concentrations,　respectively.　Higher　concentrations　of　PBDEs,　DBDPE,　and　DPs　were　found　in　fish　species　from　the　Wanshan　Archipelago　compared　to　those　from　the　Mischief　Reef　and　the　Yongxing　Island,　suggesting　the　significant　influence　of　anthropogenic　activities.　Species-specific　differences　in　levels　of　PBDEs　were　observed,　with　the　order　of　bathydemersal　＞　demersal　＞　pelagic　≈　reef-associated　＞　benthopelagic　species.　The　average　fanti　value　of　all　fish　samples　was　0.68,　suggesting　commercial　DP　products　as　a　contamination　source.　The　levels　of　PBDEs,　DPs,　and　DBDPE　in　fish　samples　were　relatively　low　compared　with　those　from　other　locations　around　the　globe.　Finally,　the　health　risks　concerning　the　ingestion　of　BDEs　47,　99,　153　and　209　via　fish　consumption　collected　from　the　SCS　are　negligible.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd