2022 Volume 78 Issue 6 Pages II_11-II_17
We aimed to determine the material flow of plastics used in marine fishery, which are considered to be one of the main source of plastic discharged into the ocean. Specifically, we attempted to estimate the purchase intensity of plastic products per catch by three major fishing methods in a fishiery association in Fukuoka Prefecture: medium-sized purse seine fishing, longline fishing, and angling fishing. From this study, we revealed that the purchased weight of all plastic products per ton of catch for each fishing method was 6 kg/t-catch for medium-sized purse seine fishing, 186 kg/t-catch for longline fishing, and 36kg/t-catch for angling fishing. Among above noted plastics, weight of the plastic fishing gears such as fighting net, hooks, lines and lures for 3 fishing methods were 2kg/t-catch, 94kg/t-catch, 7kg/t-catch respectively.