Microplastic emissions from fishing ropes: Quantification, characteristics, and implications for marine pollution

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Marine Biology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Fishing gear, particularly ropes, is a major source of marine pollution.
• Microplastic generation from mechanical abrasion of fishing ropes is under-researched.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify and characterize microplastics from fishing rope abrasion.
• To assess the impact of hauling weight and frequency on microplastic release.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a custom-designed hauler system to simulate rope abrasion.
• Analyzed microplastic quantity, size distribution, and morphology.
• Applied linear regression to determine relationships between variables.

Main Results:

• 92% of released microplastics were non-fiber fragments, similar to those in Korean coastal waters.
• Each 1 kg increase in hauling weight yielded 1.383 additional microplastic particles/meter.
• Annual global release estimated at 768 trillion particles (2.8 kilotons) from new rope abrasion.

Conclusions:

• Fishing rope abrasion is a significant, overlooked source of marine microplastic pollution.
• Findings highlight the need for mitigation strategies targeting fishing gear.
• Further research on polymer fragmentation and particle fate is recommended.