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Coastal ecosystem inventory with characterization and identification of plastic contamination and additives from aquaculture materials
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Researchers conducted a pilot study of an Atlantic French coastal area used for oyster aquaculture and found that 70% of beached plastics originated from aquaculture materials, while sediment samples contained microplastics carrying plastic-associated chemical additives, documenting a distinct aquaculture-driven contamination signature.
In the early 1970s, studies of marine litter first appeared in the scientific literature. Fifty years later, knowledge of several coastal areas of the Atlantic, the driving forces of oyster farmers and aquaculture, is lacking. This work documents a pilot study on an Atlantic coastal area (France). This study aims to (i) characterize the abundance of macroplastics related to aquaculture tools; (ii) microplastics present in beach sediments and (iii) characterization of pollutants present on aquaculture plastics collected. First, it was observed that 70% of the plastics collected on the beach were characteristic of aquaculture materials. In sediments, MPs most found were Polyamide between 10 and 20 μm, with a total MP concentration of 397-457 MPs.kg. Pipes collectors (PVC), frequently used in aquaculture, have been shown to have concentrations of dimethylphthalates and naphthalene. Waste management and support policies can then base their actions on such studies, in order to improve their knowledge.
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Spatio-temporal contamination of microplastics in shellfish farming regions: A case study
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Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in a major French shellfish farming region over one year, finding that mussels and oysters contained confirmed microplastics with polyethylene and polypropylene as dominant polymer types, varying by site and season.
Microplastic abundance and characteristics in French Atlantic coastal sediments using a new extraction method
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Researchers developed a new extraction method for microplastics from coastal Atlantic sediments in France and applied it to characterize microplastic abundance and composition, finding widespread contamination and demonstrating the method's improved efficiency for recovering particles from sediment matrices.
Microplastics in bivalves and their habitat in relation to shellfish aquaculture proximity in coastal British Columbia, Canada
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Researchers compared microplastic concentrations in Manila clams and Pacific oysters grown at commercial shellfish aquaculture sites versus reference beaches in coastal British Columbia, finding that proximity to aquaculture operations influenced microplastic levels in both bivalves and surrounding sediments.
Occurrence, bioaccumulation and ecological risk of aquaculture-derived microplastics in coastal waters
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Researchers reviewed microplastic contamination from aquaculture activities and found that fishing nets, foam buoys, and plastic packaging release large quantities of particles into coastal waters, with aquaculture-derived microplastics accounting for up to 99% of total microplastics at some sites. Cultured seafood consistently showed higher microplastic burdens than wild shellfish, highlighting aquaculture as a major but underestimated pollution source.
Microplastics in norman coastal waters : application of the state of the art in shellfish farming
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This study applied state-of-the-art analytical methods to characterize microplastic contamination in coastal waters of Normandy, France, in the context of shellfish aquaculture. The findings highlight the risks microplastics pose to shellfish production and food safety in coastal regions with high shellfish farming activity.
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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.