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bioRxiv · 10.1101/080986

Low plastic ingestion rate in Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) from Newfoundland destined for human consumption collected through citizen science methods

Liboiron, M.·Liboiron, F.·Wells, E.·Richard, N.·Zahara, A.·Mather, C.·Bradshaw, H.·Murichi, J.
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Abstract

Marine microplastics are a contaminant of concern because their small size allows ingestion by a wide range of marine life. Using citizen science during the Newfoundland recreational cod fishery, we sampled 205 Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) destined for human consumption and found that 5 had eaten plastic, an ingestion prevalence rate of 2.4%. This ingestion rate for Atlantic cod is the second lowest recorded rate in the reviewed published literature (the lowest is 1.4%), and the lowest for any fish in the North Atlantic. This is the first report for plastic ingestion in fish in Newfoundland, Canada, a province dependent on fish for sustenance and livelihoods.\n\nHighlights (3-5 points, 85 char max including spaces)O_LIPlastic ingestion rate of 2.4% for Atlantic Cod (n=205)\nC_LIO_LIFirst recorded baseline for fish in Newfoundland, Canada\nC_LIO_LIThis plastic ingestion prevalence rate is among the lowest recorded to date\nC_LIO_LIUsed citizen science to collect GI tracts from fish destined for human consumption\nC_LI

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Liboiron, M., Liboiron, F., Wells, E., Richard, N., Zahara, A., Mather, C., Bradshaw, H., Murichi, J.. 2016-10-14. Low plastic ingestion rate in Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) from Newfoundland destined for human consumption collected through citizen science methods. https://doi.org/10.1101/080986

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