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Plastic ingestion by Scyliorhinus canicula trawl captured in the North Sea
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Researchers examined the gastrointestinal tracts of 20 small-spotted catsharks trawled from the North Sea and found macroplastic in two individuals and microplastic in one, representing the first documented case of plastic ingestion in this species and suggesting routine gut analysis of commonly landed shark species is warranted.
The ingestion of plastic debris by marine organisms has been documented across a variety of taxa including; marine mammals, sea birds, sea turtles and some fish species. Fewer reports have described ingestion by sharks, in this study the gastrointestinal tracts of 20 small spotted catsharks (Scyliorhinus canicula) trawl captured in the North Sea were investigated. Macroplastics (>20 mm) were found in 2 individuals and microplastic (<5 mm) was found in one other individual, this is the first time that plastic ingestion has been reported in this species. These observations suggest that gastrointestinal analysis of commonly landed elasmobranch species is worthwhile, to further understanding on the organisms and habitats impacted by plastic pollution.
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Researchers analyzed different types of plastics in the digestive tracts of female small-spotted catsharks (Scyliorhinus canicula) caught in Mediterranean waters. The study found high prevalence of plastic ingestion in this demersal shark species, documenting the types and quantities of plastic particles present.
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Deep-water catsharks (Galeus melastomus and Scyliorhinus canicula) in the Tyrrhenian Sea were found to ingest microplastic debris, demonstrating that plastic pollution has penetrated deep-sea shark habitats in the Western Mediterranean.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.