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Presence and implications of plastics in wild commercial fishes in the Alboran Sea (Mediterranean Sea).
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Researchers surveyed commercial fish species from the Alboran Sea in the western Mediterranean for ingested micro- and mesoplastics. Plastic particles were detected across multiple species, with prevalence and type varying by feeding habitat and behavior. The study provides data to support assessments of seafood safety and ecological risk in a heavily trafficked Mediterranean region.
The presence of plastic in the environment has become a major problem for marine ecosystems. The identification of the global micro and mesoplastic uptake by commercial fish populations may allow for a better understanding of their impact. This study aims to determine the presence and composition of plastic in two pelagic fish (Engraulis encrasicolus and Scomber scombrus) and two demersal species (Scyliorinus canicula and Mullus barbatus) from the Alboran Sea (western Mediterranean) to quantify the relationship between plastic prevalence and the environment and feeding behavior in the selected fish species. Samples of these four fish species from sites in the Alboran Sea were studied for ingested plastics. These localized samples were also compared to published values which covered a broader geographical range. Samples from the Alboran Sea study sites showed that the predominant fiber color was black and the predominant plastic polymers were polyethylene and cellulose. At the Alboran Sea study site the highest plastic occurrence was found in S. scombrus, whereas in the published literature the highest occurrence of plastics in digestive tracts was found in E. encrasicolus. The general prevalence of marine plastic pollution and levels of macro- and micro-plastic ingested by commercial fish species in this study support the idea that quantifying plastic presence and composition may be essential to understanding potential impacts on marine ecosystems.
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Presence and the global implications of plastics in wild commercial fish in the Alboran Sea
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Researchers found plastics in the stomachs of four commercial fish species from the Alboran Sea (western Mediterranean), with pelagic species showing higher prevalence than demersal ones. The study examined whether feeding behaviour and habitat explain the observed differences in plastic uptake across species.
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Anthropogenic particles including microplastics were found in the digestive tracts of fish from two aquatic environments, with ingestion rates and particle types varying by species and location. The study documents widespread microplastic ingestion across fish species in different habitat types.
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Researchers examined the gastrointestinal tracts of 229 demersal fish from two Mediterranean species across three geographic sub-areas, finding microplastics in a significant portion of individuals with fibers as the dominant type. The study contributes to growing evidence that microplastic ingestion is widespread in commercially fished Mediterranean species.
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This systematic review examines microplastic levels in five commercially important fish species caught in Mediterranean waters. The findings confirm that microplastics are routinely present in popular seafood, with concentrations varying by species and location, underscoring the need to monitor and reduce plastic contamination in fish that millions of people eat regularly.
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Researchers examined nine commercially important fish species from the northeastern Mediterranean Sea and found microplastics in both their digestive tracts and gills. The most common particles were small polyethylene and polypropylene fibers, and bottom-dwelling fish species had higher contamination levels. While the ecological risk was rated low to medium, the presence of microplastics in widely consumed fish species highlights a potential pathway for human exposure through seafood.
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