Arctic sentinels: plastic contamination in Arctic sharks and skates
In Greenland’s Arctic Ocean, long-lived predators like the Greenland shark and the thorny skate act as biological time capsules, accumulating contaminants throughout their extended lifespans. Nicolas believes they can provide unique insights into long-term plastic pollution trends. He is collaborating with Inuit fishers along Greenland’s west coast to collect the stomach contents of sharks and rays caught for traditional consumption. He’ll quantify and identify ingested plastic debris and establish a contamination gradient along the coastline to distinguish between local pollution sources and distant sources. The project will provide evidence for targeted conservation actions and raise awareness among Inuit communities about plastic contamination impacts while respecting traditional fishing practices.
Nicolas Gosset
I am a PhD candidate at the Arctic University of Tromsø (UiT), Norway, where I study plankton ecology in the Arctic Ocean. At the same time, I am the scientific coordinator of Expédition MED, an association dedicated to combating plastic waste in the sea. I hold a Master’s degree in Marine and Littoral Sciences from the European University Institute of the Sea (IUEM), with International Antarctic Institute (IAI) label certification.
I became sensitised to environmental issues at a young age and this shaped my academic and professional journey towards marine biology and polar ecology. From the earliest...
Arctic Sentinels: A first assessment of plastic contamination in Arctic sharks and skates
The primary aim is to provide the first-ever baseline assessment of plastic contamination in Greenland’s sharks and rays through collaborative research with Inuit fishing communities, establishing contamination gradients that will distinguish between local and distant sources of pollution.
Arctic sharks and rays serve as unique biological archives of pollution due to their extreme longevity and position at the top of marine food webs. Despite living in the most remote waters on earth, these species face increasing threats from plastic contamination, but no previous studies have documented the level of their exposure. This research will provide critical evidence to guide targeted conservation action and policy decisions to protect these vulnerable Arctic sentinels.
The Arctic Ocean, once considered pristine, now faces increasing pressure from plastic pollution as global contamination reaches even the most remote marine environments. Greenland’s waters harbour extraordinary species like the Greenland shark, which can live for more than 400 years, and the thorny skate; both are classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN. These long-lived predators act as biological time capsules, accumulating contaminants throughout their extended lifespans and providing unique insights into long-term pollution trends. Their digestive systems, particularly the spiral valve structure, are prone to retaining plastic debris, making them especially vulnerable to the effects of contamination while simultaneously serving as powerful indicators of ecosystem health. Previous studies have already documented chemical contaminants like PCBs and DDTs in Greenland sharks, suggesting that plastic contamination is highly likely. However, no research has yet quantified plastic ingestion in these iconic Arctic species, representing a critical knowledge gap in our understanding of polar marine contamination.
- To collaborate with Inuit fishers across 12 communities along Greenland’s west coast to collect the stomach contents of sharks and rays caught for traditional consumption.
- To quantify and identify ingested plastic debris using standard laboratory methods and RAMAN spectroscopy to determine contamination levels and the types of plastic.
- To establish a contamination gradient along the coastline to distinguish between local pollution sources (fishing gear, community waste) and distant sources (global oceanic transport).
- To provide scientific evidence to support targeted conservation actions, from improvements in local waste management to international plastic pollution treaties.
- To raise awareness among Inuit communities about the impacts of plastic contamination while respecting traditional fishing practices and building collaborative research partnerships.