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Plastic litter and marine fish (PlasM)
Project
Project code: 2819108816
Contract period: 01.07.2017
- 30.06.2021
Budget: 396,268 Euro
Purpose of research: Inventory & Assessment
Marine litter is a global problem: Huge amounts of plastic waste reach the oceans and become marine litter. We investigated how many plastic litter items (microplastic) can be found in marine fish. In European seas about 70-80% of marine litter is plastic. Macro plastic items and especially small plastic particles (< 5mm) known as microplastic have been in the focus of the project. The results lead to the conclusion that the relatively small amounts of microplastic taken up by fishes in North Sea and Baltic Sea (0 to 10 particles per fish) are not likely to be a threat for fish health or for the consumer. This conclusion is based on the current scientific knowledge on microplastic. Polymer composition of macro litter at the sea floor can provide valuable information on vertical litter transport and should become part of future litter monitoring.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal health
- Marine fisheries
- Resource management
