Elevated levels of ingested plastic in a high Arctic seabird, the northern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)

Alice M. Trevail,Jan A. Van Franeker,Geir W. Gabrielsen,Susanne Kühn

doi:10.1007/s00300-015-1657-4

Alice M. Trevail, Jan A. Van Franeker + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1657-4

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Abstract

Plastic pollution is of worldwide concern; however, increases in international commercial activity in the Arctic are occurring without the knowledge of the existing threat posed to the local marine environment by plastic litter. Here, we quantify plastic ingestion by northern fulmars, Fulmarus glacialis, from Svalbard, at the gateway to future shipping routes in the high Arctic. Plastic ingestion by Svalbard fulmars does not follow the established decreasing trend away from human marine impact. Of 40 sampled individuals, 35 fulmars (87.5 %) had plastic in their stomachs, averaging at 0.08 g or 15.3 pieces per individual. Plastic ingestion levels on Svalbard exceed the ecological quality objective defined by OSPAR for European seas. This highlights an urgent need for mitigation of plastic pollution in the Arctic as well as international regulation of future commercial activity.

Highlights

The threat of pollution in the Arctic is rising as commercial activity increases, enabled by rapid sea ice decline (Kerr 2012) and driven by global politics and economic demand (Brigham 2011)
Plastic pollution is of worldwide concern; increases in international commercial activity in the Arctic are occurring without the knowledge of the existing threat posed to the local marine environment by plastic litter
In this study we found that on Svalbard, 22.5 % of northern fulmars have C0.1 g of plastic in their stomach, which exceeds the level defined by Oslo-Paris Convention (OSPAR) as the Ecological Quality Objective for the North Sea (EcoQO; 10 %)

Summary

Introduction

The threat of pollution in the Arctic is rising as commercial activity (such as shipping) increases, enabled by rapid sea ice decline (Kerr 2012) and driven by global politics and economic demand (Brigham 2011). There is an urgent need for a quantitative assessment of plastic pollution levels in the Arctic. Such an assessment can provide information for the development of international regulation to protect the marine environment for the future (Brigham 2011), as well as a tool for monitoring potential impacts of future commercial activity

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