Ingestion of microplastics by demersal fish from the Spanish Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts

Microplastic pollution has received increased attention over the last few years. This study documents microplastic ingestion in three commercially relevant demersal fish species from the Spanish Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, the lesser spotted dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula, the European hake Merluccius merluccius and the red mullet Mullus barbatus. Overall 212 fish were examined, 72 dogfish, 12 hakes and 128 red mullets. The percentage of fish with microplastics was 17.5% (15.3% dogfish, 18.8% red mullets and 16.7% hakes), averaging 1.56±0.5 items per fish, and the size of the microplastics ranged from0.38 to 3.1mm. These fish species are used currently as biomonitors for marine pollution monitoring within the Spanish Marine Pollution Monitoring Programme (SMP), and may be aswell suitable candidates formonitoring spatial and temporal trends of ingested litter. The data presented here represent a baseline for the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive descriptor 10 in Spain.

Authors are grateful to the crew and scientists of the DEMERSALES, ARSA and IBERIANMULLUS oceanographic cruises, and to the auxiliary staff of the Oceanographic Centres of Vigo and Murcia (IEO), for assistance in sampling and sample treatment. We also acknowledge Dr. Víctor M. León and Dr. Dick Vethaak for methodology advice. We thank María Saínza for helping with figures preparation. The study has been funded by the IMPACTA Project (CTM2013-48194-C3-1-R, Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness).

Peer reviewed