Monitoring microplastic pollution: The potential and limitations of Nephrops norvegicus

Joyce, Haleigh;Nash, Róisín;Frias, João;White, Jonathan;Cau, Alessandro;Carreras-Colom, Ester;Kavanagh, Fiona

2023-01-01

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Abstract

Microplastics are a major global concern in the marine environment. The use of marine biota to monitor MP pollution has been previously highlighted as a method of providing data. This review focuses on the current data available on the presence of microplastics in Nephrops norvegicus, a commercially important seafood species, highlighting the advantages and limitations of the species to determine its potential use for monitoring microplastic pollution. At present, there is no harmonized and standardised methodologies for microplastic analysis available, therefore, this review has proposed future research on microplastics at a European scale. Given the complexity of microplastics present in the marine environment, the authors recommend a more holistic approach with the integration of Nephrops and sediments along with other species and matrices to cover all ecosystem compartments to provide a comprehensive database of microplastic levels and trends in the marine environment.