Plastic fish
We’ve been guilty of polluting the environment with plastic for a long time and there’s an ever-increasing amount of data showing the extent of the problem. A very recent study assessed the presence of plastic debris in fish and shellfish on sale for human consumption in Indonesia and California.
In Indonesia, plastic was found in 28 per cent of individual fish and in 55 per cent of all species. The majority was plastic fragments but also considerable amount of plastic foam was found, accompanied by plastic film and plastic monofilament line.
In the USA, man-made debris was found in 25 per cent of individual fish, 33 per cent of shellfish and in 67 per cent of all species. The majority were fibres from textiles.
These results raised alarm all over the world on many levels. The obvious solution? Don’t use plastic unless necessary, recycle plastic packaging and don’t eat fish!
Rochman 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.
About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
Justine joined Viva! in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. After working as a campaigner, then researcher and writer, she is now Viva!’s head of research and her work focuses on animals, the environment and health. Justine’s scientific training helps her research and write both in-depth scientific reports, such as White Lies and the Meat Report, as well as easy-to-read factsheets and myth-busting articles for consumer magazines and updates on the latest research. Justine also recently wrote the Vegan for the Planet guide for Viva!’s Vegan Now campaign.
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