Plastic debris straps on threatened blue shark
Published online on 12 January 2017
Plastic debris straps on threatened blue shark Prionace glauca
Ana I. Colmenero, Claudio Barría, Elisabetta Broglio, Salvador García-Barcelona
ABSTRACT:
Juveniles of blue shark Prionace glauca caught in pelagic longlines targeting tuna and swordfish in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea were found entangled with plastic straps around their gill region. The plastic debris were identified as strapping bands and caused several degrees of injuries on the dorsal musculature and pectoral fins. They were also obstructing the gill slits probably causing breathing issues. These records were uploaded in the web site seawatchers.org, and highlight the potential of citizen science in revealing the occurrence of such problems which could help to measure the effects of plastic debris on marine life.
Marine Pollution Bulletin, DOI 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.01.011