Feeding ecology and ingestion of plastic fragments by Priacanthus arenatus: What's the fisheries contribution to the problem?

Abstract

Atlantic Bigeye (Priacanthus arenatus) is a demersal species from the Priacanthidae family with little literature relating to its biology and catch aspects. Due to this lack of research, the focus of this effort was to describe the feeding preferences of Atlantic Bigeye and to evaluate the influence of plastic debris derived from the local fisheries activities on its diet. The most important items were Corophiidae, Penaeidae, Actinopterygii, Isopoda, Cephalopoda, Policheta and plastic. Plastic was present in 49.17% of the stomachs analyzed. A total of 210 plastic fragments were found, and 63% were derived from fishing. Of those, 55% were derived from paint fragments from vessels and 8% from synthetic fibers (PA). The results suggest that plastic fragments found in stomachs are related to the species' natural diet and that this debris is locally deposited in the coastal environment. Fishing resources appear to have been affected by this local marine pollution.

Keywords: Condition factor; Debris ingestion; Fishery impacts; Marine pollution; Plastic debris.