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First evidence of presence of plastic debris in stomach of large pelagic fish in the Mediterranean Sea
Summary
Researchers examined stomach contents of large predatory fish including swordfish and bluefin tuna caught in the Mediterranean Sea and found plastic debris in about 18% of the specimens. The ingested plastics ranged from tiny microplastics to large fragments, and were primarily polyethylene and polyester. This is the first study documenting plastic ingestion in large pelagic Mediterranean fish, suggesting that even top ocean predators are exposed to plastic pollution.
This study focuses, for the first time, on the presence of plastic debris in the stomach contents of large pelagic fish (Xiphias gladius, Thunnus thynnus and Thunnus alalunga) caught in the Mediterranean Sea between 2012 and 2013. Results highlighted the ingestion of plastics in the 18.2% of samples. The plastics ingested were microplastics (<5mm), mesoplastics (5-25mm) and macroplastics (>25mm). These preliminary results represent an important initial phase in exploring two main ecotoxicological aspects: (a) the assessment of the presence and impact of plastic debris on these large pelagic fish, and (b) the potential effects related to the transfer of contaminants on human health.