The Chilean teleost fish includes several economically important relevant species for Chilean marine aquaculture diversification and fisheries. A relevant group of these species is included in the Genypterus genus, with red cusk-eel (Genypterus chilensis), pink cusk-eel (Gen ypterus blacodes), and black cusk-eel (Genypterus maculatus) as the main native species of this genus in Chile. These species are relevant for artisanal fisheries, as well as for aquaculture diversification. A broad geographical distribution is observed for these species, with populations in the north, center, and south of the country. These fish could be exposed to different pollutants, including plastic pollution. Microplastics are small plastics that are abundant in marine environments. However, little is known about the microplastic pollution in the population of these species , including the differences between species, distribution in tissues, and geographical effect in the pollution level of microplastic in the Genypterus genus . This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of microplastic in different tissues of Genypterus species across the Chilean coast.
These species of teleost fish were sampled in different locations of the Chilean coast registering length, weight, and the tissue of the animals . The tissue was digested in KOH and then filtered using Whatman glass microfiber and analyzed using a high-resolution optical microscope. We found microplastic presence in all the Genypterus species, showing that this genus is affected by microplastic pollution. Additionally, we determined differences in pollution levels between the digestive tract, gills, and muscles. Additionally, we observed higher prevalence compared to other fish species, with some differences according to species and location under study. This information is evidence that microplastic pollution level is a relevant issue for species of the Genypterus genus and that the species and location are factors that influence the microplastic pollution , requiring more studies to determine its effect at the physiological level on these species. Funding: ANID FONDECYT Inicio 11230153; Programa de Inserción Académica PIA 82510015.