How would you describe your project in a few sentences?
Recently, attention has been raised regarding the fate of plastic waste in the environment and particularly so in the sea. Weathering processes degrade larger plastic pieces into smaller particles termed microplastics (MPs), which if mistaken for food by e.g. fish could affect digestion and feeding negatively. Since plastics also have a potential to adsorb environmental pollutants, they could transfer harmful substances up the food web.
Herring is one of the most common fish species in the Baltic Sea and since it feeds mainly on zooplankton it should be especially vulnerable to MPs. In this project we have screened herring (Clupea harengus) stomachs for MPs along the Swedish coast and explored how the quantity of ingested MPs correlates to the amount of environmental pollutants found in herring tissues.
What are your most important results, and for whom are they particularly useful?
The results from this study are still under analysis, however, considering that we still know very little about microplastic concentrations, their distribution and effects on wildlife, the results from this study could come in handy for competent authorities because they could provide an indication of relative MP abundances over a wide geographic area and establish a current level of biological exposure in a Baltic key fish species.
How can it assist an ecosystem-based management of the marine environment?
Since herring is a key component of the Baltic Sea ecosystem and an important food source for humans, it is important to identify any factors that could affect their overall quality and condition.
