About This Project

We are conducting microplastic shoreline surveys and would like to explore if microplastic is commonly ending up in the tissues of shellfish in areas where high concentrations of microplastics are found. And if so, can the shellfish tissue be analyzed to detect chemical leaching from the microplastic. The results may have implications on food security and shellfish farming that utilizes plastic aquaculture farming gear.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

I'm located in a coastal Canadian region with advanced waste management systems that is also home to one of British Columbia's most prolific aquaculture farming regions. The plastic pollution that washes up on our shorelines is predominately from this industry. Over the past four years, our team has conducted extensive shoreline cleanups and have found less than 1% of marine debris collected to be urban litter or internationally sourced. On south facing aspects and in inlets with high concentrations of aquaculture farms, we're finding high levels of microplastic along shorelines. Our team has been sampling high tide lines to evaluate the occurrence and levels of microplastic washing in with each tide cycle. Shellfish are naturally prevalent in the region and we'd like to explore if there is a direct correlation with high levels of microplastic on shorelines and microplastic being found in the tissue of shellfish.

What is the significance of this project?

This project would provide some data on if areas with high microplastic concentrations are finding their way into shellfish tissue more readily. This research can help provide data on if clams that generally live below the surface are being affected to the same degree as oysters, which live on the surface in the intertidal zone. And if mussels, which live near the surface but not directly on shorelines are affected in the same way.

What are the goals of the project?

The goal of this project is to see if there is a direct correlation between shorelines with high concentrations of microplastics and microplastic found in the tissue of shellfish. The project can start as soon as funding is available. We intend to work with a local Indigenous youth program to help carry out the field research work. Microplastic shoreline surveys will be conducted using Ocean Diagnostics' methodology and technology. We have 2 community toolkits. After collecting shellfish species from the sampling area, we will dissect the tissue at the Tla'amin Nation fishery facility with the potential to send sample collections to the Vancouver Island University's Deep Bay Marine Field Station for further or expanded analysis.