AUTHOR=Bakir Adil , van der Lingen Carl D. , Preston-Whyte Fiona , Bali Ashok , Geja Yonela , Barry Jon , Mdazuka Yandiswa , Mooi Gcobani , Doran Denise , Tooley Freya , Harmer Rogan , Maes Thomas 

TITLE=Microplastics in Commercially Important Small Pelagic Fish Species From South Africa

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2020.574663

DOI=10.3389/fmars.2020.574663

ISSN=2296-7745

ABSTRACT=<p>This study documented the levels of microplastics in three commercially important small pelagic fish species in South African waters, namely European anchovy (<italic>Engraulis encrasicolus</italic>), West Coast round herring (<italic>Etrumeus whiteheadi</italic>) and South African sardine (<italic>Sardinops sagax</italic>). Data suggested variation between species with a higher concentration of microplastics for <italic>S. sagax</italic> (mean of 1.58 items individual<sup>–1</sup>) compared to <italic>Et. whiteheadi</italic> (1.38 items individual<sup>–1</sup>) and <italic>En. encrasicolus</italic> (1.13 items individual<sup>–1</sup>). The occurrence of microplastics was also higher for <italic>S. sagax</italic> (72%) and <italic>Et. whiteheadi</italic> (72%) compared to <italic>En. encrasicolus</italic> (57%). Microfibers accounted for 80% of ingested microplastics (the remainder were plastic fragments) with the main ingested polymers being poly(ethylene:propylene:diene) (33% occurrence), polyethylene (20%), polyamide (20%), polyester (20%), and polypropylene (7%). The abundance of ingested items was not significantly correlated with fish caudal length or body weight, and spatial investigation indicated an increase in the abundance of ingested items from the West to the South coast. <italic>Etrumeus whiteheadi</italic> is proposed as a bio-indicator for microplastics for South Africa.</p>