Ingestion of plastic debris (macro and micro) by longnose lacetfish (Alepisaurs ferox) iin the North Atlantic Ocean

• Published in: Regional Studies in Marine Science
• Main Authors: Gago, J. (Jesús), Portela, S. (Sofía), Filgueiras-Rodal, A.V. (Ana Virginia), Pauly-Salinas, M., Macías-López, A.D. (Ángel David)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo 2021
• Subjects: Marine debris; Macroplastics; Microplastics; Alepisaurus ferox; Plastic ingestion; North Atlantic; fish; plastic debris; ingestion; visual inspection; Lowe
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10508/11863; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2019.100977

Plastic debris is found in nearly all marine regions and is a known threat to marine biota. This study evaluates the ingestion of plastic marine debris (macro and micro plastics) by a piscivorous predator, Alepisaurus ferox Lowe (1833). A total of 27 specimens were captured in 2015 and 2016 in the North Atlantic (around 34 degrees-36 degrees N and 10 degrees-16 degrees W) and their stomachs were dissected and inspected for plastic elements. Macroplastic particles were found in 37% of fish, with an average weight of 0.46 +/- 1.14 g with film being the most abundant category (60%). The main polymers characterized were Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene (PE). Microplastics were found in 74% of the stomachs, with item values per individual ranging from 0 to 16, with an average value of 4.7 +/- 4.8 items per stomach. Only microfibers and fragments were observed, with microfibers (similar to 85 %) being the dominant type