A COMPARISON OF THE MICROPLASTIC CONSUMPTION BY SMALL AND LARGE ANCHOVY FISH

Abstract

   Recent studies have shown microplastics are also found on anchovy from Indonesia Sea. The anchovy is an abundant fish caught all year round because of the market demand in Asia. Generally, people do not like tiny anchovy pieces, and tend to consume anchovy as a whole, thus ingesting the digestive system as well. This study therefore broadens the perspective on data comparison from the previous study. In this study, four locations on the Indonesia Sea were assigned as the anchovy's sample origin. Subsequently, statistical analysis was conducted on comparison and regression for both microfiber and microfilm contamination found on each anchovy. The highest contaminated anchovy with microfiber (59.96±0.63 particle idv^-1) and microfilm (68±8.50 particle idv^-1) were discovered to be from Talisayan, East Kalimantan, while the lowest contamination on microfiber were from East Lombok (13±4.58 particle idv^-1), and no microfilm contamination was found on Alor's anchovy. Furthermore, a comparison was conducted between the anchovy's weight, length, microfiber, and microfilm, and the results showed no correlation (p > 0.05). This issue is therefore more challenging for future research, as another probability of accumulation is open. The bundance of microplastics contamination is not related to the anchovy's body mass, however, there is currently an exception for the variable of location, and only microfilm contamination has a correlation to the sample locations (r = 0.576).