Microplastic contamination in commercial fish from the Central Black Sea

Abstract

Plastics have become integral to modern life due to their versatility, affordability, durability, and lightweight nature. Microplastic (MP) pollution is a significant danger to marine ecosystems. This study examines MP ingestion in nine commercially important fish species (European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus, whiting Merlangius merlangus, red mullet Mullus barbatus, Mediterranean horse mackerel Trachurus mediterraneus, Atlantic bonito Sarda sarda, picarel Spicara flexuosa, garfish Belone svetovidovi, bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix, and round goby Neogobius melanostomus) from the central Black Sea coast of Turkey. In total, 111 MPs were identified in the gastrointestinal tracts of 270 fish, with no MPs found in the fillets. Fibers were the most found MP type; the predominant polymers were polyethylene and polypropylene. Pomatomus saltatrix, Engraulis encrasicolus, and Neogobius melanostomus exhibited the highest rates of MP ingestion, averaging 0.66 MPs per fish. This research provides fundamental data for evaluating the environmental hazards of microplastics in fish species found in the Black Sea. It emphasizes the urgent need for efficient waste management strategies to reduce plastic pollution.