A study has found that 33% of fish caught in the English Channel had plastic in their stomach contents.

Over 500 fish from 10 species, including horse mackerel and whiting, were examined in the Plymouth University study. 184 of these fish had one to 15 pieces of small plastics (less than 1mm in size) in their bodies.

The pieces were identified as rayon and other plastics "from the breakdown of larger items such as bags and bottles."

The implications of plastic ingestion be dire. Researchers say that the plastics could disrupt the digestive system through blockages, or lead to malnutrition or starvation.

Read more in the Guardian.

Find out more about what CAW is doing to keep plastics out of our waters. Read about our Bottle Bill and Campaign to End Single-Use Plastic Bags.