Impact of intensive mariculture activities on microplastic pollution in a typical semi-enclosed bay: Zhanjiang Bay

Fajin Chen; Qibin Lao; Mengyang Liu; Peng Huang; Bin Chen; Xin Zhou; Piao Chen; Kai Chen; Zhiguang Song; Minggang Cai

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113402

Impact of intensive mariculture activities on microplastic pollution in a typical semi-enclosed bay: Zhanjiang Bay

Mar Pollut Bull. 2022 Mar:176:113402. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113402. Epub 2022 Feb 9.

Authors

Fajin Chen¹, Qibin Lao², Mengyang Liu³, Peng Huang⁴, Bin Chen⁵, Xin Zhou¹, Piao Chen⁵, Kai Chen³, Zhiguang Song¹, Minggang Cai⁶

Affiliations

¹ College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China.
² College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; Marine Environmental Monitoring Centre of Beihai, State Oceanic Administration, Beihai 266031, China.
³ College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
⁴ College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
⁵ Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
⁶ College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China. Electronic address: mgcai@xmu.edu.cn.

PMID: 35150985
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113402

Abstract

Microplastic (MP) was investigated in Zhanjiang Bay, a semi-enclosed bay in south China and famous for considerable mariculture industry, to evaluate whether mariculture activities accelerated MP pollution. The MP abundances ranged from 0 to 2.65 n/m³ (number/m³), showing seasonal variances with higher levels in May and September and lower levels in January. In the inner part of the bay, a significantly high MP abundance and predominance of foam were found during the oyster breeding period, and pollution sources were prone to be single and extensive. This suggested that MPs were strongly influenced by the intensive plastic products for oyster culturing, especially during breeding. Moreover, plastic cages used for culturing were the main source of MPs in the central part of the bay. By conducting statistical analysis for eight representative bays, the economic growth, social development, agriculture structure, and aquaculture development were supposed to influence the local MP pollution level.

Keywords: Mariculture; Microplastics; Oyster culture; Social-economic influence; Zhanjiang Bay.

MeSH terms

Bays / chemistry
China
Environmental Monitoring
Microplastics*
Plastics / analysis
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Microplastics
Plastics
Water Pollutants, Chemical