Filenews 30 January 2026
Marine pollution from microplastics has become one of the main threats to the planet's oceanic and coastal ecosystems, even in the most remote places.
A new study published this week detected these particles in fish from remote Pacific islands, with a percentage of 75% in the samples analyzed in Fiji, reports the Spanish agency Efe.
These tiny particles, less than five millimeters in size, come from the breakdown of larger plastic or industrial products such as synthetic fabrics, tyres, and cosmetics.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, microplastics account for up to 30% of the garbage floating in the oceans and between 15 and 31% of the 9.5 million tons of plastic dumped at sea each year.
Recent studies confirm their presence in all seas and marine ecosystems. In Europe, 139 microplastic particles per cubic meter of water have been detected, with the Baltic Sea being the most polluted, and concentrations of up to 424 particles per cubic meter off the Spanish coast.
In the Mediterranean, experts warn that the sea is turning into a "soup of microplastics", with serious consequences for marine life and human health.
The research, published this week in the journal PLOS and conducted by the University of the South Pacific (Fiji), focuses on island nations and Pacific territories – Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu – where rapid urbanisation and limited waste management systems exacerbate the problem.
The study analyzed 878 inshore fish from 138 species caught by local fishing communities, revealing that one-third of the samples contained at least one microplastic particle.
The highest levels were recorded in Fiji, where nearly three-quarters of the fish were contaminated, a rate well above the global average of 49%.
Although the number of particles per fish was low, the incidence indicates widespread contamination. In contrast, only 5% of the fish in Vanuatu showed the presence of microplastics.
The study identified reef fish and bottom-feeding fish as the most affected, especially those that consume invertebrates or use ambush tactics to catch their prey. These species, essential for the livelihoods of fishing communities, act as reservoirs of synthetic pollution.
The researchers warn that the dominance of fibre in the samples reflects a deep penetration of pollutants from textiles and fishing gear into the diet of human populations.
"Our results shatter the illusion that isolation offers protection," said Rufino Varrea of the University of the South Pacific, who emphasizes the urgent need for a Global Plastics Treaty that imposes strict limits on production and toxic additives.
Research by the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona reveals that rivers are a major source of pollution, as evidenced by the case of the Evros River, which discharges 2.2 billion microplastics into the Mediterranean Sea each year.
In estuaries and estuaries, 85% of mussels and 53% of oysters analyzed contained microplastics, while in marine fish, contamination reached up to 86% in species such as cod and Norway lobster.
The problem extends to protected areas. In Brazil, even marine areas that are under full protection are contaminated by microplastics, and in the Columbrete Islands (Spain), more than 6,000 particles per kilogram of sediment have been found in coral ecosystems.
It is estimated that about 14 million tons of these particles accumulate on the global ocean floor, 25 times more than previously thought.
The effects are numerous, the study says. Microplastics can absorb up to 81 chemical pollutants, carry pathogens, and enter the food chain.
In the Canary Islands, for example, microplastics containing pesticides and fire retardants have been found, and in the Pacific, a recent study detected their presence in 75% of the fish analyzed in Fiji.
In addition, research by the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies highlights that ecosystems such as seagrass meadows and mangrove forests act as natural filters, although they also accumulate large amounts of these particles.
In response to this situation, measures have been implemented. In 2024, Asturias activated its marine pollution emergency plan after microplastics washed up on its beaches, and in 2025 the European Union adopted stricter regulations to prevent the loss of plastic pellets during transport.
At the same time, innovative solutions are being developed, such as the use of bacteria that biodegrade microplastics and new plastic materials that break down in seawater.
The scale of the problem is global: even zooplankton, the basis of the marine food chain, acts as a carrier for microplastics, transporting them through the water column and into sediments.
Scientists warn that marine microplastic pollution is persistent, nearly impossible to eliminate, and has potentially devastating effects on biodiversity.
