Omar Khalid
Plastic pollution in the ocean is a pressing issue, with trillions of pieces of plastic floating in the water. As a result, plastic ingestion by fish is a growing problem. Studies have shown that the rate of plastic consumption by marine fish has doubled in the last decade and is increasing by more than 2% per year. This trend is likely due to both improved detection methods and an actual increase in plastic consumption by fish. Researchers have found plastic in the stomachs of hundreds of fish species, including those commonly consumed by humans. While the average number of plastic pieces per fish is relatively low, the health consequences for individual fish and the potential impact on humans remain a concern.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of marine and estuarine fish species analysed | 555 |
| Number of fish species with ingested plastic | 386 |
| Number of commercially fished species with ingested plastic | 210 |
| Percentage of commercially fished species with ingested plastic | 75% |
| Percentage of species with threatened or near-threatened status and ingested plastic | 14% |
| Average number of plastic pieces per fish | 1-2 |
| Highest recorded number of plastic pieces inside a fish | 83 |
| Average percentage of fish with ingested plastic (2010-2013) | 15% |
| Average percentage of fish with ingested plastic (2017-2019) | 33% |
| Average percentage of fish with ingested plastic in the Baltic Sea | 3.4-6.5% |
| Percentage of fish with ingested plastic in the Southern Atlantic Ocean | 66% |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic ingestion is increasing in fish
Plastic ingestion by fish is a growing problem. A review of 129 studies on 171,774 individuals of 555 species of marine fish revealed that two-thirds of all species had ingested plastic. That's 386 species, including 210 that are commercially fished. The rate of plastic consumption by marine fish has doubled in the last decade and is increasing by more than 2% per year. This is due to both improved detection methodologies and an increase in the amount of plastic in the oceans.
The amount of plastic in the oceans is increasing, with trillions of pieces of plastic floating in the world's oceans, from surface waters to the deep sea. As a result, more fish are ingesting plastic. This is especially concerning because many of these species are consumed by humans. In fact, three-quarters of commercially fished species ingested plastic, and common sole was found to be the "most worrisome".
The ingestion of plastic by fish can lead to health problems. Studies have shown that fish that ingest plastic suffer from liver toxicity and pathology. They also experience behavioural changes, moving and hunting more slowly than usual and taking twice as long to feed. In addition, plastic ingestion can lead to reduced food ingestion, lower energy accumulation, and energy depletion.
The problem of plastic ingestion is not universal, however. While it is widespread, about one in four fish contain plastic, and the average number of plastic pieces per fish is relatively low. Fish that did consume plastic typically had only one or two pieces in their stomachs. The likelihood of plastic ingestion decreases with depth, and certain species are more likely to ingest plastic than others. Active predators at the top of the food chain, such as sharks, ingested the most plastic, while grazers and filter-feeders consumed the least.
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Fish species higher in the food chain are at greater risk
A study published in the journal Global Change Biology revealed that the rate of plastic consumption by marine fish has doubled in the last decade and is increasing by more than 2% annually. The study also revealed new information about which species are most affected and where the risks are greatest.
According to the studies, about one in four fish contains plastic, with the fraction increasing over time. Fish that consume plastic usually have only one or two pieces in their stomachs. This indicates that plastic ingestion by fish is widespread but not universal. It also doesn't appear random. Researchers were able to predict which species were more likely to eat plastic based on their environment, habitat, and feeding behavior.
Fish that hunt other fish or marine organisms as prey, such as sharks, grouper, and tuna, are more likely to ingest plastic. Consequently, species higher on the food chain are at greater risk. For example, members of the Sphyrnidae family, which includes hammerhead and bonnethead sharks, ingested the most plastic. Grazers and filter feeders, on the other hand, consumed the least.
The accumulation of plastic in fish can lead to health problems. While it hasn't caused noticeable population issues yet, 35 species were listed as threatened or near-threatened, and another 26 species are vulnerable to overfishing. The blue shark, Atlantic bluefin tuna, and chinook salmon are of particular concern due to their threatened status, vulnerability to overfishing, and frequent plastic ingestion.
Furthermore, the decline in the mean trophic level of fish catches over the last 50 years indicates that large, high-trophic-level fish like tuna, swordfish, and cod are being depleted, and fishing efforts are shifting to smaller fish lower on the food chain. This "fishing down the food web" has ecological implications and can impact the health of marine ecosystems.
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Microplastics can be mistaken for food
Marine animals, including fish, are consuming microplastics, which are small plastic particles that come from the degradation of plastics. These particles are widespread in the environment and can be found in water and soil. Fish that consume plastic usually have one or two pieces in their stomachs, and the average number of plastic pieces per fish is relatively low. However, the amount of ingested plastic seems to be increasing, and higher up the food chain, the greater the risk of plastic ingestion.
The accumulation of plastic in fish can lead to reduced food ingestion, lower energy accumulation, and energy depletion. It can also cause physical damage, especially when ingesting secondary microplastics, which may have sharp edges and irregular shapes. Studies have shown that nanoparticles of plastic can lead to behavioral changes in fish, such as slower movement and hunting and increased feeding time. Additionally, nanoparticles can cause disturbances in lipid metabolism, resulting in differences in weight and cholesterol levels.
The impact of microplastic ingestion on fish health is still being studied, and the long-term effects are not yet fully understood. However, it is clear that microplastics and nanoplastics are entering the food supply, and humans may be consuming these particles through the ingestion of contaminated fish and other food sources. While the current scientific evidence does not show that the levels of microplastics in food pose a significant risk to human health, the potential health impacts are a concern, and further research is needed.
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Plastic ingestion is more common in polluted waters
Plastic ingestion by fish is a growing problem. A study published in the journal Global Change Biology revealed that the rate of plastic consumption by marine fish has doubled in the last decade and is increasing by more than 2% annually. Another study found that an average of 15% of sampled fish contained plastic between 2010 and 2013, and that this figure rose to 33% between 2017 and 2019. This increase is likely due to the growing amount of plastic pollution in the oceans, as well as improved detection techniques.
The rate of plastic ingestion varies depending on the location and the species of fish. Fish in heavily polluted waters, such as those in East Asia, are more likely to ingest plastic. This is a significant concern as seafood from this region helps feed 2 billion people. Demersal species in shallow waters are also more prone to ingesting plastic, while pelagic species were found to consume more plastic at depths of 100-200 meters. Fish higher up in the food chain, such as predatory fish, are at a greater risk of consuming plastic as they feed on other marine organisms that may have already ingested plastic.
The type of plastic ingested by fish also varies by location. For example, fish collected from Indonesia contained primarily particulate plastic, while those from the United States had mostly fibrous litter. The most common types of plastic found in fish include polyamide and polyethylene. While the average number of plastic pieces per fish is relatively low, with most studies finding only one or two particles, there have been cases of fish containing up to 83 pieces of plastic.
The ingestion of plastic can lead to health issues in fish, such as reduced food ingestion, lower energy accumulation, and energy depletion. It can also cause physical damage, especially when ingesting secondary microplastics with sharp edges. Studies have shown that nanoparticles can lead to behavioral changes and disturbances in lipid metabolism, resulting in differences in weight and cholesterol levels. These nanoparticles have been found to bind to apolipoprotein A-1, a fundamental component of fat metabolism.
While the immediate threat to humans from consuming seafood containing plastic is low, the amount of plastic consumed by fish is expected to increase in the coming decades. Humans may be exposed to more plastic through other sources such as breathing in dust or ingesting contaminated water. Monitoring top predators and studying the movement of plastic across marine ecosystems is crucial to understanding the extent of this issue.
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Plastic ingestion can cause health issues in fish
Plastic ingestion is a growing problem for fish, with trillions of pieces of plastic floating in the world's oceans, from surface waters to the deep sea. A global analysis of plastic pollution in the ocean found that two-thirds of all marine and estuarine fish species had ingested plastic. This included 210 commercially fished species, with three-quarters of these species being commonly consumed by humans. The rate of plastic consumption by marine fish has increased in recent years and is projected to continue rising.
The ingestion of plastic can lead to health issues in fish due to the physical and chemical hazards posed by microplastics. Fish that consume plastic may experience physical damage from ingesting secondary microplastics, which often contain sharp edges and irregular shapes. In addition, plastic debris is often laden with chemical pollutants that can lead to bioaccumulation and adverse health effects in fish. For example, studies have shown that fish exposed to polyethylene with chemical pollutants suffer from liver toxicity and pathology.
The accumulation of plastic in fish can also lead to reduced food ingestion, lower energy accumulation, and energy depletion. Nanoparticles of plastic have been observed to cause behavioural changes in fish, such as slower movement and hunting, increased feeding time, and disturbances in lipid metabolism, resulting in weight differences and altered cholesterol levels. These health issues can have population-level impacts, with 35 species listed as threatened or near threatened and 26 species vulnerable to overfishing due to their frequent plastic ingestion.
While the immediate effects of plastic ingestion on fish populations are not yet noticeable, the long-term consequences are still unknown. As plastic pollution in the oceans continues to increase, the health risks to fish are likely to become more severe. Further research is needed to fully understand the scope and severity of the problem and to address the impact of plastic ingestion on the health of marine ecosystems.
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Frequently asked questions
It is estimated that about one in four fish contain plastic. This fraction seems to be growing over time.
The average number of plastic pieces per fish is relatively low. Most fish that have ingested plastic have only one or two pieces in their stomach. The highest recorded number of plastic particles inside a fish has been 83 pieces.
Fish that hunt other fish or marine organisms as prey, such as sharks, grouper, and tuna, are more likely to ingest plastic. Species higher on the food chain are at greater risk.
Regions with an abundance of plastic in surface waters, such as East Asia, have shown higher levels of plastic ingestion by fish.
The ingestion of plastic can lead to health issues in fish, including reduced food ingestion, lower energy accumulation, and energy depletion. It can also cause behavioral changes, such as slower movement and hunting, and impact their ability to reproduce.
