Microplastics In Fish From The Kwazulu-natal BightSipho MkhizeSupervised by: Dr Robertson-Andersson and G.K Moodley

Microplastics

• Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic smaller than 5mm in diameter

Secondary microplastics

Strong wave action

OceansPlastic Garbage

Chemical processes

Microplastics

Primary microplastics

Industrial abrasive

cosmetics

Beads

Severity of plastics in the world

Animals ingesting plastic

Micro-organisms

Bigger animalsPlastic bag

Smaller pieces

Long term effects in Humans

• Cancer• Alters DNA and RNA• Adverse effects on reproduction

Microplastics in the Agulhas current

Aims of study• To quantify the number of microplastic particles in fish caught in different regions in the Agulhas current large marine ecosystem, including the mesoscale eddy in the Bight and

• To determine whether there was a difference in microplastic ingestion in fish caught in the epipelagic and mesopelagic zones.

Methods

Results

Fibre

sFilaments

Fragm

ent

sPellet

Broken pieces of larger plastic items.

56 %Round in shape like beads for necklace designs.

7,5 %

A slender thread-like resembling pieces of fishing line.

29 %

Hair-like small pieces of plastic.

7,5 %

34 %

Microplastics were found in

Maximum number of plastics in one fish

6

Epipelagic and Mesopelagic fish

Durban Eddy

DURBAN

AGUL

HAS

CURR

ENT

NATAL

BIGHT

EDDY

PARK RYNIE

THUKELA

Acknowledgements.• African Coelacanth Ecosystem Program (ACEP),• Thukela Bank Ecosystem Functioning Project• National Research Foundation (NRF) • C. Wilkinson and D. Hayes of the Oceanographic

Research Institute (ORI).• Dr. AM De Lecea (UKZN). • K Sorenson, owner and crew of the ‘Ocean Spray’,

for kindly making his trawler available.

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Thank you…