Microplastic in Commercial Fish in the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf. Part 1: The Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

Microplastic has become a ubiquitous environmental pollutant. Microplastic in the oceans has detrimental effects on aquatic organisms. The presence of microplastic in marine fish heightens the chance of finding microplastic in seafood targeted for human consumption. The Mediterranean Sea is known to suffer from significant plastic pollution. It is also one of the most thoroughly studied water bodies in regard to microplastic contamination. The manuscript reviews the available literature of 2015-2021 on the presence of microplastic in commercially important fish species in the Mediterranean Sea. The literature data on microplastic content on beaches, in subtidal sediment, in the sediment from the ocean floor and in surface water of different regions of the Mediterranean Sea is reviewed, also.