First record of microplastics ingestion by European hake MERLUCCIUS MERLUCCIUS from the Tyrrhenian Sicilian coast (Central Mediterranean Sea)

A sample of 67 European hake Merluccius merluccius were examined to highlight the ingestion of microplastics in the Tyrrhenian Sea. In all samples, 31 black fibres were found in the stomach contents corresponding to 46.3% of the specimens. The data presented here could be important for the implementation of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive in Mediterranean waters.     

Feeding habits of grey gurnard,Eutrigla gurnardus (L., 1758), along the Catalan coast (northwestern Mediterranean)

The stomach content of 589 specimens of Eutrigla gurnardus (collected at quarterly intervals) have been analyzed to determine diet according to fish size and season. The results show that crustaceans (% No = 93%, %Weight = 81%) are the basic food and that teleostean fishes are quite important in the adult diet. The importance of nycthemeral migrators decreases significantly as size increases, whilst the importance of benthic prey increases inversely. In every size, the feeding intensity is greater at midday than in the morning. Larger prey are eaten in winter than in summer although feeding intensity is lower in winter.