Dr. Róisín Nash:

Having heard about the potential sources of and pathways for microplastics in waterways, it makes sense to look at estuaries, bays, inlets and oceans as their probable destiny but also as sources of secondary microplastics. All habitats and species mentioned hereafter can be taken to have recorded the presence of microplastics. Studies have reported the ubiquitous recording of microplastics in the Irish marine environment. At GMIT, experienced marine microplastics scientists are answering a number of research questions involving identification and quantification in seawater, sediments and biota. Our aims are to build on the knowledge base, particularly in an Irish context; to produce comparative standardised methodologies; to improve comparability throughout Europe; to increase ocean literacy through providing information on microplastics in Irish commercial species and taking an ecosystem-based approach to our research using Irish case studies.

Looking at the earlier studies of microplastics, much of the focus, both in Ireland and outside, was on building a knowledge base. Dr. Amy Lusher wrote her PhD in GMIT on microplastics and began to show the ubiquitous distribution of microplastics in seawater of the coast and the presence of microplastics both in mesopelagic fish and True’s beaked whales.

Dr. Heidi Acampora did her PhD in microplastics and macroplastics in GMIT where she began to show the high levels of plastics in beached seabirds through carrying out beach bird and colony surveys with the help of Citizen Science. She helped to develop and apply European methodologies for necroscopies in Ireland. The results of her research led to the use of an OSPAR ecology quality objective to reduce the levels of litter and plastic particles in fulmar stomachs in Ireland. Current research by Andrew Power, a PhD candidate on a Marine Institute Cullen fellowship, is looking at seabird eggs to reduce the levels of hazardous substances in the eggs. Niall Keogh, a PhD student, is building on the knowledge of the interactions of seabirds and marine litter, both inshore and offshore. Dr. La Daana Kanhai recorded microplastics along latitudinal gradients, including upwelling, in the Atlantic Ocean and seawater sediments and sea ice in the Arctic Sea basin.

In the area of methodologies, research led by Dr. Anne Marie Mahon is exploring the use of different plankton nets to sample surface microplastics using Galway Bay as a case study. This has resulted in providing recommendations on the sampling and processing of microplastics in surface waters in Europe. The research will also provide valuable Irish data for the levels of microplastics in our backyard. Building on this research, GMIT is particularly invested in quality control and rigorous scientific standards in the research of microplastics and it subsequently led to our involvement in BASEMAN, a JPI Oceans project, with funding supported by the Irish Marine Institute. Research involving Dr. João Frias, Dr. Anne Marie Mahon, Dr. Ian O’Connor and me has resulted in the production of European standardised methodologies for seawater, sediment and biota and recommendations for monitoring.

Research into commercial species is important to increase our knowledge base. As ocean literacy increases and consumers become more aware of microplastics, they become very interested in the risks associated with seafood. We have researchers who have examined the intestinal tracts of pelagic fish and the Dublin Bay prawn from fish grounds off the south and west coasts. The blue mussel is regularly consumed in Ireland, while the common prawn is largely exported. They have both recorded low levels of microplastics in their intestinal tracts. We have several research projects exploring research questions in spatial differences and potential impacts on behaviour, etc. The lug worm, best known for its use as bait, has the potential to result in bioaccumulation of microplastics up the food chain to its predators.

With so much research, national and international, focusing on individual species, we felt it was important to take an ecosystem approach to get a better overview of what was happening in a bay. Therefore, Elena Pagter, a PhD candidate, and Dr. João Frias are using Galway Bay to build a more complete picture to inform both policy makers and the local community. Based on the research presented and the fact that, for many products, there are numerous feasible alternatives that may be utilised instead of microplastics, we are in support of the general scheme of the 2018 Bill for the prohibition of certain products containing plastic microbeads.