Abundance of ingested debris by seals has been mentioned as a potential indicator of marine litter in the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). A sample of 107 stomachs, 100 intestines and 125 scats of harbour seals from the Netherlands was analysed for the presence of plastics.
Economy, business and finance/Economic sector/Chemicals/Synthetic and plastic chemicals
Abundance of ingested debris by seals has been mentioned as a potential indicator of marine litter in the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). A sample of 107 stomachs, 100 intestines and 125 scats of harbour seals from the Netherlands was analysed for the presence of plastics. Incidence of plastic was 11% for stomachs, 1% for intestines, and 0% for scats. Younger animals, up to 3 years of age, were most affected. This is the first quantitative study of plastic ingestion by phocid seals. The observed level of incidence is of environmental concern, but is low in the sense of suitability of seals for MSFD monitoring purposes. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Plastic ingestion by harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in The Netherlands
CNR-ISMAR, and Generation Service. "Plastic ingestion by harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in The Netherlands." ROHub. Jun 20 ,2018. https://w3id.org/ro-id/4c028c19-69ed-4842-b4e0-af1aa0fb27f2.
Science and technology/Natural science/Marine science
Incidence of plastic was 11% for stomachs, 1% for intestines, and 0% for scats.
Plastic ingestion by harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in The Netherlands.