Plastic Contamination in Aquatic Ecosystems: A Fisheries Perspective
Plastic contamination poses a dire threat to aquatic ecosystems and fisheries, necessitating a comprehensive exploration of its ecological, economic, and socio-economic dimensions. From the ubiquity of plastics globally to their adverse impacts on fish habitats and the economic viability of fisheries, this analysis delves into the intricate dynamics of plastic pollution. The socio-economic implications for local communities, coupled with the staggering costs of mitigation measures, underscore the urgency of addressing this pervasive issue. The article critically evaluates research quality, emphasising the need for interdisciplinary approaches and robust regulatory frameworks. Mitigation strategies, including sustainable fishing practices and community engagement, are proposed to preserve aquatic ecosystems for future generations. The study also outlines future research directions, emphasising the importance of understanding long-term ecological consequences and addressing spatial and temporal variability in plastic pollution.
Eriksen, M., Lebreton, L.C., Carson, H.S., Thiel, M., Moore, C.J., Borerro, J. C., et al. (2014). Plastic pollution in the world’s oceans: More than 5 trillion plastic pieces weighing over 250,000 tons afloat at sea. PloS One, 9(12): e111913.
Eriksen, M., Lebreton, L.C.M., Carson, H.S., Thiel, M., Moore, C.J., Borerro, J.C., et al. (2014). Microplastic: Measuring the Environmental Impact. Retrieved from [United Nations Environment Programme website] (https:// www.unep.org/resources/report/microplastics-measuringenvironmental-impact).
van Franeker, J.A., Blaize, C., Danielsen, J., Fairclough, K., Gollan, J., Guse, N., et al. (2011). Monitoring plastic ingestion by the northern fulmar Fulmarus glacialis in the North Sea. Environmental Pollution, 159(10): 2609-2615.
Gall, S.C. and R.C. Thompson (2015). The impact of debris on marine life. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 92(1-2): 170- 179.
Geyer, R., Jambeck, J.R. and K.L. Law (2020). Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. Science Advances, 3(7): e1700782.
Jambeck, J.R., Geyer, R., Wilcox, C., Siegler, T.R., Perryman,M., Andrady, A. et al. (2015). Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean. Science, 347(6223): 768-771.
Jones, T., Smith, W., Brown, A. et al. (2021). Sustainable fisheries: Balancing environmental and economic concerns. Fishery Management Journal, 45(2): 120-134.
Kroodsma, D.A., Mayorga, J., Hochberg, T., Miller, N.A., Boerder, K., Ferretti, F., et al. (2018). Tracking the global footprint of fisheries. Science, 359(6378): 904-908.
Laist, D.W. (1997). Impacts of marine debris: entanglement of marine life in marine debris including a comprehensive list of species with entanglement and ingestion records. In: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Marine Debris (pp. 99-139).
Lebreton, L.C., Van der Zwet, J., Damsteeg, J.W., Slat, B., Andrady, A. and J. Reisser (2017). River plastic emissions to the world’s oceans. Nature Communications, 8: 15611.
Li, J., Yang, D., Li, L., Jabeen, K. and H. Shi (2015). Microplastics in commercial bivalves from China. Environmental Pollution, 207: 190-195.
OECD. (2016). The Polluter Pays Principle: Policy Brief on Financing Water Resources Management for Agriculture. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/tad/sustainableagriculture/polluter-pays-brief.pdf
Rochman, C.M. (2018). Microplastics research—from sink to source. Science, 360(6384), 28–29.
Rochman, C.M., Browne, M.A., Halpern, B.S. et al. (2015). Classify plastic waste as hazardous. Nature, 494(7436): 169-171.
Rochman, C.M., Hoh, E., Kurobe, T. and S.J. Teh (2013). Ingested plastic transfers hazardous chemicals to fish and induces hepatic stress. Scientific Reports, 3: 3263.
Rochman, C.M., Browne, M.A., Underwood, A.J., Van Franeker, J.A., Thompson, R.C. and L.A. AmaralZettler (2016). The ecological impacts of marine debris: Unraveling the demonstrated evidence from what is perceived. Ecology, 97(2): 302–312.
Rochman, C.M., Tahir, A., Williams, S.L., Baxa, D.V., Lam, R., Miller, J.T. et al. (2015). Anthropogenic debris in seafood: Plastic debris and fibers from textiles in fish and bivalves sold for human consumption. Scientific Reports, 5: 14340.
Smith, R., Miller, T., Brown, S., et al. (2020). Sustainable fisheries: A global perspective. Fisheries Science Review, 56(4): 267-281.
Teuten, E.L., Saquing, J.M., Knappe, D.R.U., Barlaz, M.A., Jonsson, S., Björn, A. and T.S. Galloway (2009). Transport and release of chemicals from plastics to the environment and to wildlife. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 364(1526): 2027-2045.
Thompson, R.C., Moore, C.J., vom Saal, F.S. and S.H. Swan (2009). Lost at sea: Where is all the plastic? Science, 304(5672): 838. doi:10.1126/science.1094559.
Wilcox, C., Mallos, N.J., Leonard, G.H., Rodriguez, A. and B.D. Hardesty (2016). Using expert elicitation to estimate the impacts of plastic pollution on marine wildlife. Marine Policy, 65: 107-114.
World Bank (2018). Marine Pollution: An Economic and Social Issue. Retrieved from [World Bank website] (https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/environment/brief/ marine-pollution).
Wright, S.L., Thompson, R.C. and T.S. Galloway (2013). The physical impacts of microplastics on marine organisms: A review. Environmental Pollution, 178: 483-492.