Microplastic ingestion by a herring Opisthonema sp. in the Pacific coast of Costa Rica

Microplastics ingestion by fish in the Pangandaran Bay, Indonesia

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Researchers examined the digestive tracts of 18 fish from Pangandaran Bay, Indonesia, finding 193 microplastic particles across two species — predominantly fragments (50%) and films (27%) — and providing the first documented evidence of microplastic contamination in fish from that coastal region.

Prevalence and Characterization of Ingested Microplastics in Coastal Fish in South Korea

Microplastic in fish – A global synthesis

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A global synthesis of microplastic ingestion data from marine, freshwater, and estuarine fish found that 49% of sampled fish worldwide had ingested plastic, averaging 3.5 pieces per fish, with freshwater fish and those from aquaculture sources showing higher ingestion rates than wild marine fish. This comprehensive analysis reveals that microplastic contamination of fish — a primary human protein source globally — is now the rule rather than the exception, underscoring urgent risks to food safety.

Microplastics in Juvenile Commercial Fish from an Estuarine Environment

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Juvenile commercial fish from an estuarine environment were found to have ingested microplastics, demonstrating that plastic contamination affects fish at early life stages in transitional coastal ecosystems rather than only in open ocean habitats. Since estuaries serve as nurseries for many commercially important species, microplastic ingestion by juveniles threatens both fish population health and the safety of seafood reaching consumers.

Impact of Plastic Waste Ingestion by Fish

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This review synthesized experimental evidence on how microplastic ingestion affects fish physiology and behavior, finding that plastics act as vectors for toxic chemicals including mercury, cause oxidative stress, and transfer contaminants up the food chain to human consumers. Because microplastics bioaccumulate through trophic levels, populations relying heavily on seafood—particularly from coastal regions—face compounded exposure risks that extend well beyond the plastic particles themselves.