Microplastics in Pelagic and Demersal Fishes of Pantai Baron, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Abstract

Yogyakarta is the second-largest producer of plastic waste in Indonesia. Plastic waste in the waters can be degraded into microplastics that can enter the body of a fish. This study aimed to determine the presence of microplastics in the digestive tract of several species of fish in Pantai Baron, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. This research was an exploratory research conducted in April-September 2019 at Pantai Baron, Yogyakarta. Two species of each pelagic and demersal fish samples were taken by buying fish caught by fishermen. The digestive tract of fish was extracted with 10% KOH, filtered, then visual identification. Microplastic types were estimated by FT-IR spectrometry. The amount of microplastic of all fishes was done by Kruskal-Wallis test while the number of microplastics of the two categories of fish was compared with the Mann-Whitney test. A correlation analysis was carried out between the length of the fish, the weight of the digestive tract, and the number of microplastics found. Microplastic shape, color, size, and type data were analyzed descriptively. A total of 78 of the 80 (97.50%) fish from four species studied contained microplastics with a total number as many as 3,651 (mean 45.60 ± 44.31 microplastic/individual). About 100% of pelagic fish samples contained microplastics, while only 95% of demersal fish samples contained microplastics. Mann-Whitney test results showed the number of microplastic/ individual was significantly different between pelagic and demersal fish (p <0.05). The most dominant shape of microplastic was fiber (53.14%), film (36.97%) and fragments (9.89%). The type of polymers detected was polyamide. The results showed that pelagic fish swallowed more microplastics than demersal fish did because of the microplastic nature that is lightweight and floats. Microplastic characteristic data can be used to estimate the main source of microplastic pollution in Pantai Baron so it can be managed appropriately.

Microplastics in fishes as seabird preys in Jakarta Bay Area

“…In Pangandaran Bay was found 193 microplastic particles in 18 individual fish [15]. The different results were also found in the fish observed at Pantai Baron, Yogyakarta, the total microplastic in 78 fish was 3651 particles [16]. In other tropical country, previous study on 116 marine fish observed in the Gulf of Mexico also reported that 12 individuals were detected having 10.4% of microplastics [17].…”

A Systematic Review on Microplastic Contamination in Fishes of Asia: Polymeric Risk Assessment and Future Prospectives

“…Demersal and benthopelagic fishes tend to inhabit areas closer to the seabed, where MPs are more likely to accumulate due to their buoyancy and the effects of ocean currents. These fishes often feed on or near the seafloor and are susceptible to contamination from the sediment, increasing their exposure to MPs that have settled in these habitats (Suwartiningsih et al, 2020). These fishes are also part of complex marine food chains where MPs can accumulate and magnify in concentration as they are consumed by smaller organisms and subsequently passed on to larger predatory fish.…”

Microplastic Pollution in Waters and its Impact on Health and Environment in Indonesia: A Review

“…41 Still on Central Java, there are 5 main rivers in Yogyakarta which ferries plastic waste from densely populated area to the sea in southern Yogyakarta, for example, is on Baron Beach, Gunungkidul Regency. 42 On the western area of Java, which is the Banten Gulf, plastic waste are spread through water flow and food chain and then reaching the island chain of Seribu. 43 The beach and rivers were the most specific places of studies.…”

“…Indonesia is known as a dense populated country which certainly affects the abundance of microplastics. 42,65 The total plastic waste generation in Indonesia reaches 5.4 tons per year, which is 14% of the total amount of household waste. 66 Apart from household activities, the presence of microplastics is also influenced by tourism and fishing activities.…”