Exploring the Distribution of Microplastics in Estuarine Sediment and Penaeid Shrimp in Estuaries Along the South Carolina Coast

The presence of microplastics in the marine environment has generated increasing concern in recent years. A number of studies have identified microplastics in Penaeid shrimp but this has yet to be explored in South Carolina. Furthermore, while several studies have identified microplastics in South Carolina estuaries, their spatial distribution along the coast and relationships to developed areas has not been investigated. This project will support the establishment of laboratory capacity to analyze microplastics at SCDNR’s Marine Resources Research Institute. Sediment samples will be collected in the summer of 2022, along with shrimp at those same sites. Shrimp will also be collected from commercial trawl zones using gear comparable to commercial gear. Samples will be analyzed for microplastic content following methods established by labs at The Citadel and College of Charleston. The student committee is also comprised of experts in this field who will help oversee the analysis. This effort represents the first project to look at coast-wide distribution and abundance of microplastics in marine sediment in South Carolina as well as penaeid shrimp.