Boops boops as a bioindicator of microplastic pollution along the Spanish Catalan coast

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 149; p. 110648
• Main Authors: Garcia-Garin, Odei, Vighi, Morgana, Aguilar, Alex, Tsangaris, Catherine, Digka, Nikoletta, Kaberi, Helen, Borrell, Asunción
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2019; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Bioindicators; Bogue; Boops boops; Fish; Indicator organisms; Indicator species; Industrialization; Ingestion; Marine environment; Marine litter; Mediterranean Sea; Microplastic pollution; Microplastics; Plastic debris; Plastic pollution; Pollution; Pollution detection; Pollution levels; Polymers; Polypropylene; Fish; Bogue; Indicator species; Mediterranean Sea; Marine litter
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110648

Microplastic pollution is a growing cause of concern for the marine environment, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea, which is considered to be one of the most polluted seas worldwide. In this study, the gastrointestinal tracts of 102 bogues (Boops boops), sampled from three areas off the Catalan coast (Spain) subject to different degrees of industrialization, were analysed to assess microplastic ingestion and thus estimate local levels of microplastic pollution. Microplastics were detected in 46% of samples analysed. As expected, the abundance and frequency of occurrence of ingested microplastics were higher off the most anthropized area of Barcelona. The majority of ingested microplastics were blue fragments ranging 0.1–0.5 mm, and the most common polymer type was polypropylene. The results of this study indicate the area off Barcelona as a possible area of concentration for microplastics, further supporting the use of B. boops as a bioindicator to assess microplastic pollution. •Levels of microplastic ingestion were assessed in bogues from the Catalan coast.•The occurrence of ingested microplastics was higher in bogues off Barcelona.•Bogues from less anthropized areas had lower amounts of microplastics in their guts.•The bogue is a suitable indicator of microplastic pollution in the Mediterranean Sea. Capsule: The results of this study indicate the area off Barcelona as a possible area of concentration of microplastics and support the use of Boops boops as a suitable bioindicator for monitoring microplastic pollution in the Mediterranean Sea.