Even though you can't see it, doesnt mean it isn't there. UR- Allie

   My scientific question is are local fish species suffering from the impacts of microplastic consumption? And is there any evidence that shows this to be true?

Plastic pollution and marine debris, South Sentinel Island, Bay of Bengal. 

I have been trying to research this topic in hopes to collect previous data involved with fish species in the area and plastic ingestion on a local scale (Daytona Beach). However this study is seemingly hard to come across, as I search and come up with little results for Daytona Beach in particular. In anyway, I still learn a whole lot. In time, I plan on coming up with my own local data to attempt to answer my scientific question. Through my independent research project and my method of studying local fish guts, I am certain to come across some answers.

Crew of hundreds cleaning up Daytona Beach.
Persimmon Hollow Brewing and Outsiders USA will host 10 cleanup events during 2018, pursuing beaches, inland waterways and springs. For more information about getting involved in the volunteer efforts, please visit www.persimmonhollowbrewing.com or www.outsidersusa.com  

   I continue to study the outcome of plastic on the marine environment as a whole, which almost always promises a result of death and mutations. In the 1970's people began to notice the issues of plastic in the seas and make records of plastic ingestion in fish. Since the first era of observations and records, at least 92 species of fish have paid the price.

   Fish are naturally curious creatures and consume most of the detrimental wrath from man made materials that do not naturally breakdown. Among species their eating habits, environment preference, way of life and many other aspects vary.

   In the water, all marine animals depend on each other in their ecosystem- in one way or another. Species are typically very different in terms of survival from their neighbors, but they share the same home and the effects of plastic pollution. Plastic ingestion happens in our seas often by species mistaking trash for food, and/or eating other animals that have also ingested harmful substances.

           Prevalence of ingested plastic particles in fish

Chart from data of % of microplastics from Species of fish in different areas of water. 

Predatory fish recorded for plastic consumption- the bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) in the central North Atlantic.

For example, predatory fish can aim for a tasty protein packed meal and end up with a mouth full of plastic. They mistake garbage for means of food.

Filter-feeders recorded herring (Clupea harengus) (left) horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) (right) in the North Sea and English Channel.Another example is bottom feeders/ filter feeders whom feed along the bottom of the sea floors. It could be easy for them to accidentally eat tiny particles of improperly disposed plastics as they feed. Small plastic pellets referred to as "Mermaids tears" have spread rapidly across the world's waters. I'm talking some of these pellets had fragmented to tiny little particles thinner than the diameter of one human hair. These super small plastics are introduced at large and since they are not naturally biodegradable, they never truly leave.   

Through my research it has been determined there have not been clear differences in plastic consumption between the pelagic and benthic fishes. Which was something I wondered about in an earlier blog. It's also prevalent that the plastic micro-pollution and relation to toxicity and impact on the oceanic food chain have also yet to be further studied. Clearly, these very important topics need to be looked into and studied. Questions are important, they lead to the answers of the future. One day the right question may later solve the plastic pollution takeover.  

Cited Sources

Plastic ingestion by fish. (n.d.). Retrieved March 02, 2018, from https://www.blastic.eu/knowledge-bank/impacts/plastic-ingestion/fish/

G.BEA EXPORT FISH | Sale of pelagic species – HORSE MACKEREL / Trachurus trachurus. (n.d.). Retrieved March 02, 2018, from http://www.gbea.es/products-gbea-export-fish/horse-mackerel-trachurus-trachurus/

What Do Fish Eat? The Answer Will Leave You Stupefied. (n.d.). Retrieved March 02, 2018, from https://animalsake.com/what-do-fish-eat

Cleaned up the Daytona Beach You Hippies! (n.d.). Retrieved March 02, 2018, from http://www.persimmonhollowbrewing.com/blog/2018/1/17/clean-up-the-daytona-beach-you-hippies

When The Mermaids Cry: The Great Plastic Tide. (n.d.). Retrieved March 02, 2018, from http://plastic-pollution.org/