Alexei Volkov
Fish are consuming increasing amounts of plastic, with the rate of plastic consumption doubling over the last decade. This is a growing problem, with 210 species of commercially caught fish found to eat plastic, and three-quarters of commercially fished species found to have ingested plastic. The amount of plastic consumed by fish is likely an underestimate, and the problem is likely to be even more widespread. Fish type and behaviour also play a role, with active predators at the top of the food chain, such as hammerhead and bonnethead sharks, ingesting the most plastic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Rate of plastic consumption by fish | Doubled over the last decade, increasing by 2.4% every year |
| Number of commercially fished species that ingest plastic | 210 |
| Number of fish species studied that had consumed plastic | Over two-thirds |
| Fish type that ingest the most plastic | Active predators at the top of the food chain, such as hammerhead and bonnethead sharks |
| Fish type that ingest the least plastic | Grazers and filter-feeders |
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What You'll Learn
- The rate of plastic consumption by fish has doubled in the last decade
- Fish type and behaviour plays a role in plastic consumption
- The likelihood of plastic ingestion decreases with depth
- The majority of species that have ingested plastic remain abundant
- The United States has the most studies on marine plastic, despite other nations having more plastic in the ocean
The rate of plastic consumption by fish has doubled in the last decade
The consumption of plastic by fish is widespread and increasing. Of the 210 species of commercially caught fish, all have been found to eat plastic. This number is likely an underestimate, and researchers have found that many new species of fish are discovered with plastic inside them each year.
The type of fish and its behaviour also play a role in how much plastic is consumed. Active predators at the top of the food chain, such as hammerhead and bonnethead sharks, ingest the most plastic. Grazers and filter-feeders consume the least. The likelihood of plastic ingestion decreases with depth.
Despite the bioaccumulation of plastic and its associated chemicals, fish populations remain abundant. However, this does not mean that plastic ingestion is not a growing problem.
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Fish type and behaviour plays a role in plastic consumption
The 210 species of fish that are caught commercially have been found to eat plastic. This number is likely an underestimate, according to researchers. Common sole was found to be "most worrisome". Three-quarters of commercially fished species ingested plastic.
The rate of plastic consumption by fish has doubled over the last decade, increasing by 2.4% every year. Even when researchers statistically controlled for improvements in methodology, they still found an overall increase in plastic consumption. Many new species of fish were discovered with plastic inside of them each year.
Over two-thirds of the fish species studied had consumed plastic.
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The likelihood of plastic ingestion decreases with depth
Each year, new species of fish are discovered with plastic inside them. Of the 210 species of fish that are commercially caught, all have been found to eat plastic. This number is likely an underestimate, and the true figure may be even higher.
The type of fish and its behaviour also play a role in plastic consumption. Active predators at the top of the food chain, such as hammerhead and bonnethead sharks, ingest the most plastic. Grazers and filter-feeders consume the least.
The research revealed that the majority of species found to have ingested plastic remain abundant. However, the bioaccumulation of plastic and its associated chemicals can cause health problems. While this is not yet causing noticeable fish population problems, it is a growing concern.
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The majority of species that have ingested plastic remain abundant
Fish are consuming more and more plastic. Over the last decade, the rate of plastic consumption has doubled, increasing by 2.4% every year. This is partly due to scientists' increasing ability to detect smaller particles of plastic. However, even when researchers statistically controlled for improvements in methodology, they still found an overall increase in plastic consumption.
The 210 species of fish that are caught commercially have been found to eat plastic, and this number is likely an underestimate. Three-quarters of commercially fished species ingested plastic, including common sole, which was found to be the "most worrisome". Even more troubling is that there's still a lot we don't know because some areas are better studied than others.
Despite this, the majority of the species found to have ingested plastic remain abundant. Active predators at the top of the food chain, like hammerhead and bonnethead sharks, ingested the most plastic. Grazers and filter-feeders consumed the least. Overall, the likelihood of plastic ingestion decreases with depth. While the bioaccumulation of plastic and its associated chemicals can cause health problems, this isn't causing noticeable fish population problems yet.
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The United States has the most studies on marine plastic, despite other nations having more plastic in the ocean
Fish are consuming plastic at an increasing rate. Over the last decade, the rate of plastic consumption has doubled, increasing by 2.4% every year. Active predators at the top of the food chain, such as hammerhead and bonnethead sharks, ingest the most plastic. Three-quarters of commercially fished species have ingested plastic, and over two-thirds of the fish species studied had consumed plastic.
The United States has the most studies on marine plastic, despite contributing only 0.2% of the world's ocean plastic. This is due in part to the country's large coastal population and high consumption levels. The Philippines, an Asian island nation with 1% of the world's population, is responsible for 36.4% of the world's ocean plastic. The top five countries producing the most ocean plastic are in Asia and together contribute 69.8% of the world's plastic trash in oceans. However, the United States is the largest generator of plastic waste, and plastic originating from the United States makes up more marine plastic than any other developed nation. The data for other nations may be inconsistent or non-existent, contributing to the perception that the United States has more studies on marine plastic.
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Frequently asked questions
Research shows that over two-thirds of the fish species studied had consumed plastic.
Three-quarters of commercially fished species have been found to ingest plastic.
Active predators at the top of the food chain ingest the most plastic.
Grazers and filter-feeders consume the least plastic.
Yes, the rate of plastic consumption has doubled over the last decade, increasing by 2.4% every year.
