Abstract
This study aims at quantifying and characterising microplastics (MP) distribution in the water column of the NW Mediterranean Sea as well as MP ingestion by the 2 main planktivorous fish of the area, sardine and anchovy.Debris of similar sizes were found in all water column samples and in all but 2 fish guts (out of 169). MP were found in 93% of water column samples with an average concentration of 0.23 ± 0.20 MP·m−3, but in only 12% of sardines (0.20 ± 0.69 MP·ind−1) and 11% of anchovies (0.11 ± 0.31 MP·ind−1). Fibres were the only shape of MP encountered and polyethylene terephthalate was the main polymer identified in water columns (61%), sardines (71%) and anchovies (89%).This study confirms the ubiquity of MP in the Mediterranean Sea and imparts low occurrence in fish digestive tracts.
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