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Occurrence of anthropogenic microdebris in stomach content from three commercial pelagic fish species off the coast of Ecuador
Summary
Scientists checked the stomachs of three common fish species off Ecuador's coast and found that actual plastic bits were surprisingly rare, showing up in less than 1 in 5 fish. However, most of what they did find were tiny fibers from fabrics like cotton and linen, likely washed in from laundry water and sewage, suggesting our clothing may be a bigger source of ocean debris than plastic itself. This is good news for seafood lovers worried about microplastics, but it's a reminder that everyday items like clothes still leave a footprint in the ocean.
Anthropogenic microdebris (AMD), including microplastics (MPs) and textile‑derived fibers, is widely distributed in marine ecosystems, yet many studies do not clearly distinguish polymer‑confirmed MPs from non‑plastic fibers. Here, we quantified AMD ingestion and characterized material composition in three commercially important pelagic fish from the coast of Ecuador: Opisthonema libertate, Auxis eudorax, and Scomber japonicus. We examined 297 fish, and isolated particles from fully digested stomach contents, then using μFTIR spectroscopy (Thermo Scientific iN10 Nicolet) to separate polymer-confirmed MPs from natural cellulosic fibers. MPs were detected in 41 individuals, corresponding to 14.68% of Opisthonema libertate, 15.09% of Scomber japonicus, and 18.75% of Auxis eudorax. These results indicate a generally low prevalence of MP ingestion across species and life stages. In contrast, most recovered AMD consisted of anthropogenic fibers, predominantly cellulosic (e.g., cotton/linen/cellulose). Particle abundance and material composition did not differ significantly among species, between juveniles and adults, or with stomach weight. Overall, these results indicate limited ingestion of MPs among the studied taxa, while highlighting widespread exposure to anthropogenic fibers likely linked to land‑based inputs, such as wastewater, along the Ecuadorian coast. These findings provide baseline evidence for AMD exposure in coastal pelagic fisheries and underscore the value of polymer‑specific identification for interpreting sources and pathways.