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Microplastic ingestion by pelagic and demersal fish species from the Eastern Central Atlantic Ocean, off the Coast of Ghana
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Researchers found microplastics in three pelagic and demersal fish species off Ghana's Atlantic coast, with Sardinella maderensis showing the highest ingestion rate (41%) and industrially produced pellets being the most dominant particle type at 31%. The study confirms widespread microplastic contamination in West African fish stocks and calls for further regional research.
We present data on the occurrence of microplastics in fish from the Guinea current region off Ghana's Coast. Frequency of occurrence of microplastics in the fish species followed the order: Sardinella maderensis (41%) > Dentex angolensis > (33%) > Sardinella aurita (26%). Mean numbers of microplastics ingested were 40.0 ± 3.8, 32.0 ± 2.7 and 25.7 ± 1.6 for S. maderensis, D. angolensis and S. aurita respectively. Industrially produced pellets were the most dominant (31%) microplastic type followed by microbeads (29%), burnt film plastics (22%) and unidentified fragments (9%). Microfibers (2%), threads (2%) and foams (<0.1%) were the least occurring microplastics in the fish species. Condition factors estimated for D. angolensis and S. aurita were >1 and below 1 for S. maderensis. The findings of the study show the common occurrence of microplastics in fish stocks and pave the way for future studies on microplastics in this Region.
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Microplastic ingestion by pelagic and demersal fish species from the Eastern Central Atlantic Ocean, off the Coast of Ghana
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Researchers found microplastics in three pelagic and demersal fish species from the Eastern Central Atlantic Ocean off Ghana's coast, with Sardinella maderensis showing the highest frequency of occurrence (41%), followed by Dentex angolensis (33%) and Sardinella aurita (26%). Industrially produced pellets were the most dominant microplastic type (31%), followed by microbeads (29%) and burnt film plastics (22%).
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Researchers found microplastics in the stomachs of three small pelagic fish species caught along the Moroccan Central Atlantic coast, confirming plastic ingestion in commercially important species in a region where marine litter is predominantly plastic. The study adds to growing evidence of microplastic contamination in North African Atlantic fisheries.
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Researchers examined the gastrointestinal tracts of commercially important fish species from the Gulf of Guinea, Ghana, for microplastic contamination. The study found that 68% of the fish contained microplastics, with fibers being the most common type, raising concerns about potential human exposure through seafood consumption in the region.
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