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Monthly microplastics change in European anchovy's (Engraulis encrasicolus) gastrointestinal tract in the Black Sea
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Researchers tracked monthly microplastic contamination in European anchovy from the Black Sea over a full year, finding seasonal variation in plastic ingestion that correlated with changes in feeding behavior and oceanographic conditions.
To contribute to a better understanding of the regional dynamics of MP pollution and its potential effects on the anchovy population and human health, here we assessed the presence and characterization of microplastics (MPs) in European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus), which is the most caught/consumed species in the Black Sea and is of vital importance to the ecosystem. A total of 360 individuals (30 per month) were sampled from the eastern Black Sea continental shelf all year round (monthly from September 20 to Aug 21). We extracted and digested the gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) of the samples with HO and characterized the MPs in the GITs by stereomicroscope and ATR-FTIR. MPs varied between 0 and 0.43 MP individual. The morphological structure of MPs was composed of 51 % fiber > fragment (32.7 %) > film (12.2 %) > foam (4.1 %) and polymer types as PP (42.9 %) and PE (22.4 %). In the prevalence of MP colors, black (26.5 %) > white (24.5 %) > red (22.5 %) was observed. The mean MP size was 735.32 ± 836.62 μm, with no significant correlation between the abundance and size of ingested MPs and anchovy height/weight and GIT weight. We determined that MP abundance showed substantial differences between the fishing season (0.18 ± 0.05 MP ind) and the banned season (0.05 ± 0.03 MP ind). It is essential to develop effective waste management strategies to protect the vulnerable marine ecosystems of the Black Sea and ensure sustainable exploitation of living resources in this region. These strategies should be accompanied by robust monitoring and enforcement measures to guarantee their effectiveness and compliance.
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Seasonal monitoring of microplastic pollution in the Southeast Black Sea: An example of red mullet (Mullus barbatus) gastrointestinal tracts
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Researchers found seasonal variation in microplastic occurrence in the gastrointestinal tracts of red mullet (Mullus barbatus) from the Southeast Black Sea, with the highest counts detected in winter and autumn, and fibers as the predominant shape across all seasons.
First Report of Microplastic Ingestion and Bioaccumulation in Commercially Valuable European Anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus, Linnaeus, 1758) from the Romanian Black Sea Coast
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Researchers conducted the first assessment of microplastic contamination in European anchovies from the Romanian Black Sea coast. They found that 88% of the fish contained microplastics, averaging about three plastic items per fish, which is the highest abundance reported for this species in the Black Sea. The study highlights growing concerns about microplastic accumulation in commercially important fish species and the potential for human dietary exposure.
Ingestion of microplastics and occurrence of parasite association in Mediterranean anchovy and sardine
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Scientists quantified microplastic ingestion in European sardines and anchovies from the Northwestern Mediterranean, finding 58–60% occurrence rates and noting that parasite infection was negatively associated with microplastic presence, suggesting shared ecological or physiological factors.
Meteorological and climatic variability influences anthropogenic microparticle content in the stomach of the European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus
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European anchovies in the NW Mediterranean showed microparticle ingestion rates influenced by meteorological and climatic patterns, with fragment abundance linked to low North Atlantic Oscillation index values that transported polluted water from the Tyrrhenian Sea. The findings reveal that climate variability shapes fish exposure to microplastics, complicating predictions of seafood contamination levels and human dietary intake of plastic particles.
Ingestion of microplastics by commercial fish species from the southern Black Sea coast
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Three commercial fish species from the Turkish Black Sea coast -- European anchovy, whiting, and red mullet -- were examined for microplastic ingestion, with plastics found in all three species and fibers being the dominant type. The study adds to regional evidence that microplastic contamination is widespread in commercially harvested Black Sea fish.
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