Researchers have found that about a quarter of fish sampled from across fish markets in California and Indonesia contain man-made debris like plastic or fiber in their guts.
In a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, the researchers report their findings, providing one of the first direct links between man-made debris and fish that end up on the dinner plates of consumers. Lead author Chelsea Rochman pointed out that there isn't a big difference in terms of how much debris were found in the fish they sampled but there was a discrepancy when it comes to the type of debris.
"We think the type of debris in the fish is driven by differences in local waste management," she added.
The researchers studied 64 fish from fish markets in Princeton and Half Moon Bay in California and 76 from Makassar, Indonesia. While 80 percent of debris discovered in the fish samples from California contained fibers, all of the fragments found in Indonesian fish were plastic.
According to the researchers, this may be so because California utilizes a highly advanced system to collect and recycle plastics but washes clothes in washing machines which lead to fibers finding their way into treatment plants, some of which may not be completely filtered out and consumed by fish in the state. Indonesia, on the other hand, has poor waste collection and recycling practices, tossing large amounts of plastic onto beaches which end up in the ocean.
To address the issue in each location, it will help to consider sources and differences in local waste management practices, said Rochman.
As the debris are found in the fishes' guts, the researchers note that it is likely for plastic and fiber to be ingested only if fish are eaten whole instead of being filleted. However, they are still researching if chemicals in plastic consumed by fish can be absorbed into the meat, rendering the entirety of the fish potentially harmful.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, up to 90 percent of seafood in the U.S. are imported, and with the U.S. importing over 100,000 tons of fish from Indonesia in the first half of 2015 alone, it is not unlikely for fish with plastic in their guts can very well end up in homes all over the country.
Photo: Taro Taylor | Flickr
