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The accumulation of microplastic pollution in a commercially important fishing ground
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Researchers assessed microplastic pollution in sediments of the Irish Sea fishing grounds used for Norway lobster harvesting, identifying seven polymer types via micro-FTIR spectroscopy and finding persistent contamination at all sampled sites across both 2016 and 2019 surveys.
The Irish Sea is an important area for Norway Lobster Nephrops norvegicus fisheries, which are the most valuable fishing resource in the UK. Norway lobster are known to ingest microplastic pollution present in the sediment and have displayed reduced body mass when exposed to microplastic pollution. Here, we identified microplastic pollution in the Irish Sea fishing grounds through analysis of 24 sediment samples from four sites of differing proximity to the Western Irish Sea Gyre in both 2016 and 2019. We used µFTIR spectroscopy to identify seven polymer types, and a total of 77 microplastics consisting of fibres and fragments. The mean microplastics per gram of sediment ranged from 0.13 to 0.49 and 0 to 1.17 MP/g in 2016 and 2019, respectively. There were no differences in the microplastic counts across years, and there was no correlation of microplastic counts with proximity to the Western Irish Sea Gyre. Considering the consistently high microplastic abundance found in the Irish Sea, and the propensity of N. norvegicus to ingest and be negatively impacted by them, we suggest microplastic pollution levels in the Irish Sea may have adverse impacts on N. norvegicus and negative implications for fishery sustainability in the future.
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This study provided the first record of microplastic contamination in sediments on the Irish continental shelf, recovering plastic particles across nearly all sampled stations. The finding confirms that even relatively remote offshore sediments accumulate microplastic pollution, likely as a final sink for particles from the water column.
Plastics, prawns, and patterns: Microplastic loadings in Nephrops norvegicus and surrounding habitat in the North East Atlantic.
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Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) and surrounding habitat in the North East Atlantic were sampled for microplastics, and both the organisms and their environment contained plastic contamination. Microplastic presence in Norway lobster, a commercially important seafood species, raises concerns about human dietary exposure. The species' burrowing behavior and position in the food chain make it a useful bioindicator of seafloor plastic pollution.
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Microplastics were detected in Arctic deep-sea sediments from multiple locations using micro-FTIR spectroscopy, characterizing polymer types, particle sizes, and shapes. The detection of microplastics in these remote, deep sediments confirms that even the most isolated ocean floor environments have been contaminated by global plastic pollution.
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Microplastic occurrence in North Sea surface waters was characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, documenting the types and concentrations of synthetic polymer particles across sampling stations. The study contributes to understanding the distribution of microplastics in a heavily trafficked semi-enclosed sea, and highlights the role of microplastics as vectors for persistent organic pollutants.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.