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Presence and the global implications of plastics in wild commercial fish in the Alboran Sea
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Researchers found plastics in the stomachs of four commercial fish species from the Alboran Sea (western Mediterranean), with pelagic species showing higher prevalence than demersal ones. The study examined whether feeding behaviour and habitat explain the observed differences in plastic uptake across species.
Abstract The presence of plastic in the environment has become a major problem for marine megafauna. The identification of the global micro and mesoplastic uptake by commercial fish populations may allow for a better understanding of their impact. This study aims to: (i) determine the presence and composition of plastic in two pelagic fish ( Engraulis encrasicolus and Scomber scombrus ) and two demersal species ( Scyliorinus canicula and Mullus barbatus ) from the Alboran Sea (western Mediterranean) to quantify the relationship between plastic prevalence and habitat and feeding behavior in the selected fish species, (ii) compare local measurements made of the presence of plastics ingested by these four fish species with published values from a across their range literature review, and (iii) identify the methodologies used in similar studies of plastic pollution in fish. Across their range, the highest occurrence of plastics was found in E. encrasicolus , which contrasts to that found in S. scombrus at the Alboran sea. Material analysis of the collected data showed the most predominant fiber color was black and the predominant plastic polymer was polyethylene. The increasing emerging risk of plastics and the levels of macro- and micro-plastic ingested by seafood in this study support the suggest that quantifying plastic presence and composition may be essential as a food safety measure.
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Researchers surveyed commercial fish species from the Alboran Sea in the western Mediterranean for ingested micro- and mesoplastics. Plastic particles were detected across multiple species, with prevalence and type varying by feeding habitat and behavior. The study provides data to support assessments of seafood safety and ecological risk in a heavily trafficked Mediterranean region.
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