Journal
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
Volume 128, Issue -, Pages 89-96Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.01.009
Keywords
Fibres; Feeding; Fulton's K; Occurrence; MFSD; Plastic pollution
Funding
- FPI Fellowship from Conselleria d'Innovacio, Recerca i Turisme of the regional Government of the Balearic Islands - European Social Fund as part of the FSE operational program
- Ajuts per dur a terme Accions Especials de Recerca i Desenvolupament del Govern de les Illes Balears [17/2015]
- European Union through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)
- European Commission DG Environment project: Support Mediterranean Member States towards coherent and Coordinated Implementation of the second phase of the MSFD - MEDCIS [11.0661/2016/748067/SUB/ENV.C2]
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The ingestion of microplastics and natural fibres (< 5 mm) was assessed for two commercial fish species in the western Mediterranean Sea: Sardine pilchardus and Engraulis encrasicolus. Gastrointestinal tracts from 210 individuals from 14 stations were examined with 14.28-15.24% of the small pelagic fish S. pilchardus and E. encrasicolus having ingested microplastics and natural fibres. A latitudinal increase in condition index (Fulton's K) of S. pilchardus gave an indication that larger individuals with better physical condition are less likely to ingest microplastics and natural fibres. Fibres were the most frequent particle type (83%) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis indicated polyethylene terephthalate was the most common microplastics material (30%). Results from this study show that both microplastics and natural fibres of anthropogenic origin are common throughout the pelagic environment along the Spanish Mediterranean coast.
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