Ingestion of microplastics and natural fibres in Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792) and Engraulis encrasicolus (Linnaeus, 1758) along the Spanish Mediterranean coast

The ingestion of microplastics and natural fibres (< 5 mm) was assessed for two commercial fish species in the western Mediterranean Sea: Sardina 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

M. Compa is the recipient of a FPI Fellowship from Conselleria d'Innovació, Recerca i Turisme of the regional Government of the Balearic Islands co-financed by the European Social Fund as part of the FSE 2014–2020 operational program. This study was partially funded by Ajuts per dur a terme Accions Especials de Recerca i Desenvolupament 2015–2016 del Govern de les Illes Balears, Ref: 17/2015. Additional appreciation to Antonio Esteban for coordinating the sample collection and special thanks to Tamara Gajst, Tine Bizjak and Arto Koistinen from SIB Labs at the University of Finland. The MEDIAS surveys have been co-funded by the European Union through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) within the National Program of collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the Common Fisheries Policy. In addition, this study was partially funded by the European Commission DG Environment project: “Support Mediterranean Member States towards coherent and Coordinated Implementation of the second phase of the MSFD – MEDCIS” with Grant no. 11.0661/2016/748067/SUB/ENV.C2.

Peer reviewed