A new study by University of Exeter scientists found that 67 percent of bottom-dwelling sharks found off the coast of the United Kingdom contained plastic particles in their digestive system.
Researchers studied the stomach contents of 46 sharks across four different species of demersal sharks — small-spotted catshark, starry smooth-hound, spiny dogfish and bull huss — to discover the “pervasive nature of plastic pollution.”
“Our study presents the first evidence of microplastics and anthropogenic fibre contaminants in a range of native UK demersal shark species,” said lead author Kristian Parton, of the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall. “We were surprised to find not only microplastics but also particles such as synthetic cellulose, which is most commonly found in textiles (including disposable hygiene items like facemasks) and clothing.”
The study was conducted in Cornwall, UK, using sharks caught as “bycatch” (by accident) in a demersal hake fishery, fishing in and around the North-East Atlantic and Celtic Sea.
