title: Low plastic ingestion rate in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) from Newfoundland destined for human consumption collected through citizen science methods.
abstract: Marine microplastics are a contaminant of concern because their small size allows ingestion by a wide range of marine life. Using citizen science during the Newfoundland recreational cod fishery, we sampled 205 Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) destined for human consumption and found that 5 had eaten plastic, an ingestion prevalence rate of 2.4%. This ingestion rate for Atlantic cod is the second lowest recorded rate in the reviewed published literature (the lowest is 1.4%), and the lowest for any fish in the North Atlantic. This is the first report for plastic ingestion in fish in Newfoundland, Canada, a province dependent on fish for sustenance and livelihoods.
authors: Department of Sociology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1C 5S7, Canada; Department of Geography, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X9, Canada; Program in Environmental Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1C 5S7, Canada; Civic Laboratory for Environmental Action Research (CLEAR), Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X9, Canada. Electronic address: mliboiron@mun.ca.
authors: Max
authors: M
authors: Liboiron
authors: Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X9, Canada; Civic Laboratory for Environmental Action Research (CLEAR), Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X9, Canada.
authors: France
authors: F
authors: Liboiron
authors: Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X9, Canada; Civic Laboratory for Environmental Action Research (CLEAR), Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X9, Canada.
authors: Emily
authors: E
authors: Wells
authors: Department of Geography, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X9, Canada; Civic Laboratory for Environmental Action Research (CLEAR), Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X9, Canada.
authors: Natalie
authors: N
authors: Richárd
authors: Department of Geography, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X9, Canada; Civic Laboratory for Environmental Action Research (CLEAR), Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X9, Canada.
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Zahara
authors: Department of Geography, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X9, Canada; Civic Laboratory for Environmental Action Research (CLEAR), Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X9, Canada.
authors: Charles
authors: C
authors: Mather
authors: Department of Geography, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X9, Canada; Civic Laboratory for Environmental Action Research (CLEAR), Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X9, Canada.
authors: Hillary
authors: H
authors: Bradshaw
authors: Department of Sociology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1C 5S7, Canada; Civic Laboratory for Environmental Action Research (CLEAR), Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X9, Canada.
authors: Judyannet
authors: J
authors: Murichi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004435:Eating; D005398:Fisheries; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D048389:Gadus morhua / Q000378:metabolism*; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry; D009523:Newfoundland and Labrador; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis*; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Atlantic cod; Citizen science; Human consumption; Ingestion; Marine debris; Plastic