Ingestion of Microplastics by Ichthyofauna in the Southern Coastline of Cameroon

Abstract

The study was designed to provide evidence of microplastic ingestion, abundance and composition in the catches of Pseudotolithus senegalensis, Pseudotolithus typus and Ethmalosa fimbriata in the dockyard of Londji and Mboa-manga on the Southern Coastline of Cameroon. The methodology involved visual observation and identification of anthropogenic particles in the stomach content (SC) and an extraction procedure involving hypochlorite digestion and isolation. In this study 45(18.37%) of a total 372 of the E. fimbriata and Pseudotolithus sp had ingested microplastics. We also found a majority abundance of 12 microplastic particle in four size classes [18-21] cm for E. fimbriata, and 20 and 23 microplastic particles in six size classes [40-45] cm and [35-39] cm for P. senegalensis and P. typus respectively. The average percentage composition of the microplastics included rope filaments (23%), fishing lines (47%), strings (13 %), pieces of plastic cloth (9%) and others (8%) with a colour diversity of white, red, yellow, grey and light blue. The results provided an improved evidence base to support policy and management decisions on measures to develop adaptation and mitigation strategies for plastic debris in the Southern coastline of Cameroon.