Occurrence of macro- and microplastics in sediment and mudskippers from Ashish Al-Doha, Kuwait

Abstract

Kuwait's marine environment has long been known to be contaminated by various pollutants, yet reports of plastic litter are limited. This study quantified macro- and microplastics in the littoral sediment and gastrointestinal tracts of mudskippers inhabiting Ashish Al-Doha-Sulaibikhat Bay, Kuwait. Results showed that macro- (395 ± 189 particles/m²) and microplastics (291.8 ± 70.6 particles/kg) in sediment were dominated by fragments and fibers, reaching up to 51.3 % and 43.7 % respectively. Due to the different feeding habits of mudskipper species and proximity to anthropogenic pollution, ingested plastic was only found in 15 % of the preliminary specimens. Contamination was attributed to discarded debris on the beach, untreated stormwater/wastewater runoff, dredging, and riverine input. Monitoring, management, and enforcement of laws are needed to undertake the unrestricted anthropogenic activity in Sulaibikhat Bay, which could lead to irreversible damage to this already fragile ecosystem.