Microplastic Occurrence in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Rabbitfish (Siganus canaliculatus) in Pujada Bay, Philippines

Microplastic (MP) ingestion by marine fish species has recently been studied and have become a growing global concern. This study evaluates the MP’s characteristics, and their polymer type found in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of common rabbitfish Siganus canaliculatus. The study utilized standard methods in extracting MPs from the fish samples and a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to identify the plastic polymers. A total of eleven (11) confirmed MPs and sixteen (16) suspected MPs were found in the GIT of 22 (27.5%) contaminated rabbitfish out of 80 individuals of S. canaliculatus examined. The most prevalent synthetic polymers ingested are thermoplastic (n = 4) and synthetic rubber (n = 4). The dominant characteristics of confirmed MPs are colored blue and fragment shape. This study is a preliminary report of MP occurrence in the GIT of rabbitfish in Pujada Bay, a common fish eaten by coastal communities in the Philippines.