Scientists sampled species across Goa's Mandovi estuary and found microplastics in every animal tested, from shellfish to the bamboo shark. The team recorded 4,871 particles in fish, including 3,369 plastics spanning 19 polymers (11 classed as highly toxic). Anchovies and catfish carried the largest loads, and 66 of 71 shellfish showed poor nutritional condition. Researchers call for better waste management, reduced plastic use and research into removal and biodegradable alternatives.
Microplastics Found Throughout Goa’s Mandovi Estuary Food Chain — Scientists Urge Immediate Action
Scientists sampled species across Goa's Mandovi estuary and found microplastics in every animal tested, from shellfish to the bamboo shark. The team recorded 4,871 particles in fish, including 3,369 plastics spanning 19 polymers (11 classed as highly toxic). Anchovies and catfish carried the largest loads, and 66 of 71 shellfish showed poor nutritional condition. Researchers call for better waste management, reduced plastic use and research into removal and biodegradable alternatives.
10:58 AM, 11/15/2025Environment
Microplastics found throughout Goa's Mandovi estuary food chain — urgent action needed
A recent study of the Mandovi estuarine system in Goa detected microplastics in every species sampled, from shellfish to top predators. The researchers aimed to understand how bioaccumulation (the buildup of microplastics in organisms) and trophic transfer (movement of particles up the food chain) operate in an estuary that supplies approximately 97% of Goa's fish production.
The study was led by scientists at the CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (Goa) and the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (Ghaziabad). The team sampled a range of animals, targeting the bamboo shark as a top predator and including species such as sardines, catfish, clams, mussels, oysters, anchovies, solefish and mackerel.
Published in Environmental Research, the results showed that anchovies and catfish carried the greatest particle loads. Ingestion during feeding was identified as the primary route by which these animals accumulated contaminants.
Across the fish examined the researchers counted 4,871 polluting particles, of which 3,369 were confirmed plastics. Laboratory analyses identified 19 distinct plastic polymers; 11 of these are classified as highly toxic.
The team traced likely sources of the particles to fragmented fishing gear, tyre wear from roads, packaging waste, electronic waste (e-waste), human sewage and textile fibres.
The study highlights that people who eat seafood from the Mandovi estuary can also ingest the microplastics contained in those animals. Many local communities depend on the estuary for both nutrition and livelihoods, so the contamination has direct social and economic implications.
Alarmingly, researchers found poor nutritional condition in 66 of the 71 shellfish species assessed. Contaminated and nutritionally weakened seafood may deliver fewer nutrients to consumers, potentially reducing public health and resilience.
The authors note that bioaccumulation of microplastics has been linked to a range of adverse effects in animals and humans, including immune system impacts and increased long-term disease risks.
Ravidas K. Naik, National Center for Polar and Ocean Research: "There are microplastics in every place on earth, and such findings only underscore the urgent need for us to take action as a society to remove plastic from various environments, with better waste disposal and new research for biodegradable alternatives."
Researchers are exploring large-scale methods to remove microplastics from water, but the report stresses that individual and policy actions remain essential: reducing single-use plastics, improving waste management and investing in biodegradable alternatives. Practical steps such as limiting plastic use, properly disposing of fishing gear, reducing tyre-derived pollution and treating wastewater can help reduce further contamination.
Key facts: 4,871 particles found in sampled fish, 3,369 plastics, 19 polymer types (including 11 highly toxic), and 66 of 71 shellfish species with poor nutritional status.