Plastic loads of northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) collected as bycatch in the North Atlantic

Key Points

• This research aims to evaluate the presence of plastics in the stomachs of northern fulmars collected as bycatch in the North Atlantic.
• Analyzed stomach contents of 507 fulmars for plastic presence.
• Examined differences in plastic loads by region, sex, and age.
• Measured total mass and number of plastic particles.
• 81% of fulmars contained plastics in their stomachs.
• 20% of stomachs contained over 0.1 g of plastics.
• Variation in the number of plastic particles differed among regions, while total mass did not.