Next time you order fish, don't just inspect for bones. Watch out for plastic as well.
A quarter of fish sold in markets is likely to contain plastic and synthetic fiber, according a study published in the journal Scientific Reports. PHYS reports that the research conducted by the University of California, Davis, in collaboration with Hasannuddin University in Indonesia, is "one of the first to directly link plastic and man-made debris to the fish on consumers' dinner plates."
To begin the data-gathering process, the researchers analyzed 76 fish from 12 species and 1 shellfish species in California and 76 fish from 11 species in Indonesia, as per New Scientist. All had been caught nearby. The animals were dissected and their guts treated chemically to dissolve body tissue and reveal any plastic and fibre debris they contained. TheWall Street Hedge reports that the jacksmelt, the striped bass, the lingcod, and the California yellowtail (also known as rainbow runner) were some of the fish species they tested.
PHYS reports that all samples from Indonesia were found to contain plastic. On the other hand, 80% of the debris uncovered from California fish samples were fibres. Remarkably, "not a single strand of fiber was found in Indonesian fish." They note, however, that 55% of the fish species tested from Indonesia contained "human-derived debris."
"Indonesia has some of the highest marine life richness and biodiversity on Earth, and its coastal regions --- mangroves, coral reefs and their beaches --- are just awash in debris," explains co-author Susan Williams, a professor with the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory who has worked on projects in Indonesia for the past several years. "You have the best and the worst situation right in front of you in Indonesia," she quips.
Lead author and David H. Smith, postdoctoral fellow in the Aquatic Health Program at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Chelsea Rochman, observes though that the disparity is not in the mass but in the kind. According to New Scientist, textile fibres were uncovered from the majority of human-made debris found in fish in the US, as compared to Indonesia's fish that is dominated by plastic. "I was very surprised to see such a difference in the type of debris between locations," says Rochman as per New Scientist.
"It's interesting that there isn't a big difference in the amount of debris in the fish from each location, but in the type: plastic or fiber," Rothman notes, as per PHYS. "We think the type of debris in the fish is driven by differences in local waste management," she hypothesizes.
"To mitigate the issue in each location, it helps to think about local sources and differences in waste management strategies," Rochman advises.
Rothman and colleagues emphasize though that humans are likely to ingest the debris only if the fish is eaten whole as the plastic and fibres are located in the fish guts. The researchers, as per PHYS, are still looking into the possibility of "whether chemicals in plastic can transfer into the meat."