Assessment of Microplastic Pollution in Economically Significant Fish Species from Libya’s Northeastern Mediterranean Coast

Microplastic pollution in marine ecosystems has become a pressing global environmental issue. However, there is limited information on the distribution of microplastics in Libyan territorial waters. This study investigates plastic waste pollution in five commercially important fish species from various marine habitats along the eastern Libyan coast (Ain El-Ghazala, Sousa, Ras Hilal, Alhaniyah, and Alhamama). A total of 75 fish specimens were collected, comprising 15 individuals from each species. The findings revealed that 38% of the sampled fish had ingested plastic debris, with microplastics being the predominant form. The Sousa region exhibited the highest contamination rate (54.46%), while Alhaniyah had the lowest (27.34%). Among the species, Epinephelus guaza showed the highest ingestion rate (47.52%), whereas Mugil cephalus was the least affected (18.33%). A significant positive correlation was observed between fish size and the size of ingested plastic particles. The study also recorded nine different plastic colors, with blue (24.54%), green (20.43%), and transparent (19.36%) being the most common. These results highlight the widespread presence and complexity of microplastic contamination in marine life along the Libyan coast, raising concerns about ecological health and potential human exposure through seafood consumption. The study underscores the urgent need for mitigation measures and contributes valuable baseline data to the global understanding of microplastic pollution.