Abstract
This study was the first to identify and quantify microplastics contamination in edible oysters and their environment in the Fiji Islands and was conducted at the only mangrove oyster farm located at Vutia, Laucala Bay. Results showed that farmed oysters contained no microplastics, while wild oysters averaged 1.78 ± 1.04 microplastics/100 g wet weight. No microplastics were detected in sediments, although average microplastics in the water was 0.803 ± 0.2 microplastics/L. The predominant microplastics type was fibers (73%), while the most common size was in the class range of 0.5–< 1.6 mm. The most common colors of microplastics were black (42%) and white (26%), while nylon (30%) and latex (25%) were the most common polymer types. The current results are expected to assist in the development of coastal aquaculture, provide food safety standards, and baseline data for future Pacific mariculture research, particularly in Fiji.
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Acknowledgements
I thank the Ministry of Fisheries of the Government of Fiji and the Vanua of Vutia in Rewa for facilitating sampling on Laucala Island. I am so grateful to my friends Brandon, Joycinette, Sabrina, Arti, Ricco, Sitiveni, Joyline, Rhoniba, Unsworth, Cynthia, Alex, Anastashia, Angela, Lorine, Belinda, Iven, Jacinta, Esther, Claude, Jeffsson, Maltali, Jauncey, Diana and Felicity for their help and time in collecting samples and assisting in various aspects of research. This work was funded by the University of the South Pacific (F3318-FST15-71502-001).
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This work was funded by the University of the South Pacific (F3318-FST15-71502-001) and the Pacific Community (SPC).
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All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of The University of the South Pacific at which the studies were conducted and ethical approval was obtained from Research Ethics Committee, permit number (Dr Chinthaka Hewavitharane/2021/).
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Vanukon, M.S., Dehm, J., Pickering, T. et al. First assessment of microplastic concentrations in oysters, water and sediment in Laucala Bay, Fiji Islands. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-024-05739-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-024-05739-w