#heliocidaris erythrogramma

[bitch-dont-krill-my-vibe]

Microfibres

What are microfibres? Microfibres are fine, synthetic yarn made of materials such as acrylic, polyethylene, polyester, and rayon. 

What’s the problem with them? Each time you wash a garment made of these materials, up to 1900 microfibres are shed. These fibres end up in Sydney Harbour through stormwater drains and research has shown that 21-64% of fishes in Sydney Harbour have ingested microfibres. 

Above is a picture of a sea urchin larva that is tangled up with a micro fibre.

I’ve recently been helping out with a project at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science where water is taken from Sydney harbour and filtered down to one micron. And we still find that there are microfibres in the water (see image above).

Halstead, J.E., Smith, J.A., Carter, E.A., Lay, P.A. and Johnston, E.L., 2018. Assessment tools for microplastics and natural fibres ingested by fish in an urbanised estuary. Environmental pollution, 234, pp.552-561.

Photo belongs to me, taken of the urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science