Low microplastic loads in riverine European eel (Anguilla anguilla) from SW England during their marine-freshwater transition.

• Main Authors: Parker, Ben, Andreou, Demetra, Green, Iain D., Pabortsava, K., Boardman, Rose M., Pinder, Adrian C., Wright, R. M., Britton, J Robert
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Anguilla anguilla; European eel
• Online Access: http://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/38538/; https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/38538/7/Journal%20of%20Fish%20Biology%20-%202023%20-%20Parker%20-%20Low%20microplastic%20loads%20in%20riverine%20European%20eel%20%20Anguilla%20anguilla%20%20from.pdf

The microplastic loads in elvers of the critically endangered European eel Anguilla anguilla, sampled in the lower reaches of three English rivers, were very low (incidence: 3.3 %, mean ± SD: 0.03 ± 0.18 particles) and did not vary with body length or between rivers. Particles were mostly black, polyolefins, fibres and fragments of size 101-200 μm. Current levels indicate a low contamination pressure locally and, consequently, management efforts might prioritise mitigating the effects of other stressors affecting the species. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.