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Microplastics have turned into a key global environmental issue in the current decade because of their marine ubiquity, bioavailability and capability of carrying toxic chemicals. The study focuses, for the first time, on the existence of plastic debris in the stomach contents of some commercially important marine fishes caught from the lower Gulf of Thailand during August to November of 2017. Size and weight range of the samples were 8.5 to 37.1 cm and 8 to 133 g. Results highlighted the ingestion of plastics in the 66.67% samples (110 out of 165 samples). The plastics ingested were microplastics (79.52%) (<5 mm), mesoplastics (20.48%) (5-25 mm). No macroplastic was found during this study since the study dealt with small fishes only. Transparent color plastics were the most dominant colors found in the stomach of fishes examined. Net fibres were the major types of plastics found during this study. There was no relationship found between size of plastics and different biological features of the investigated fishes. These initial findings signify an imperative phase in exploring ecotoxicological perspectives such as the existence and impact of plastic debris on the food chain; the probable effects related to the transmission of contaminants on human health etc.

This study assessed the feeding habits and ingestion of anthropogenic debris in 34 marine fish species from the southern Gulf of Thailand. A total of 5478 fish samples of 12 families were categorised into seven groups: planktivore, Lucifer feeder, fish feeder, Acetes feeder, shrimp feeder, piscivore, and zoobenthivore fish. A total of 2477 anthropogenic debris items were extracted from 12 fish species by visual inspection. Their ingestion of anthropogenic debris was influenced by season (p < 0.0001), with the highest ingestion during the northeast monsoon season. Furthermore, planktivorous fish displayed more ingested anthropogenic debris than the other investigated species (p = 0.022). Blue-coloured anthropogenic debris was commonly detected in the stomachs of fish and significantly differed between species (p > 0.001). Water depth and season significantly influenced the availability of food types (AF) for fish (p < 0.001). These findings provide evidence of the ingestion of anthropogenic debris by fish inhabiting a natural bay and signal the future anthropogenic pollution of marine fish.

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