Microplastics are everywhere—floating in our waterways, drifting through the air we breathe, and settling in delicate ecosystems. These tiny plastic particles aren’t just a concern for humans, who unknowingly consume thousands of them daily; they’re also invading fish and wildlife habitats, disrupting food chains and threatening biodiversity. But what exactly are microplastics, and why do they pose such a risk to the health of our ecosystems?
In 2022 alone, 400 million tonnes of plastic were manufactured. While some microplastics come directly from products like cosmetics and textiles, a significant amount forms as larger plastic items degrade. This breakdown releases fibers and fragments into waterways, ultimately reaching fragile ecosystems like the Fraser River estuary, on which fish and wildlife depend.
The B.C. Wildlife Federation’s Fraser River Tidal Marsh Clean-up project has highlighted the impact of pollution on local habitats. In partnership with the South Coast Conservation Land Management Program and the Tsawwassen First Nation, field crews have been hard at work since 2021, removing human-made trash and debris from the salt marshes of Metro Vancouver. Over the course of the project, the team removed a staggering 44,780 kg of debris from the Fraser River estuary—one of B.C.’s most ecologically rich areas.
As former BCWF Fish Habitat Restoration and Education Coordinator Haiden MacDonald explained, “Tidal marshes are pretty much the dropping point for all debris floating down. When tides rise, debris moves in. When tides fall, it gets trapped in the riparian areas.” These estuary zones, where nutrient-rich waters support fish nurseries, bird habitats, and other wildlife, are now heavily impacted by plastic and microplastic pollution.
Microplastics pose a critical threat to fish and wildlife, not only because of their widespread distribution but also due to the pollutants they carry. In the Fraser River estuary and surrounding waters, fish, birds, and marine mammals ingest these particles, introducing pollutants like persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals directly into the food chain. Microplastic ingestion can lead to physical injuries, toxic chemical buildup, and nutrient blockages in fish, which then affects larger predators, including humans, who rely on them.
The pervasive reach of microplastic contamination in local waters was further demonstrated by a 2015 Vancouver Aquarium study, which found over 1,000 microplastic particles per cubic meter of seawater in the nearby Strait of Georgia, underscoring the scale of this issue in critical habitats (Source: Ocean Wise Conservation Association, 2015).
Microplastics create long-lasting damage by affecting habitat quality, reducing biodiversity, and compromising the health of entire populations of fish and other marine species. Fish that consume microplastics often suffer from inflammation, lower reproductive rates, and slower growth. These issues ripple across the ecosystem, impacting birds, marine mammals, and species that rely on fish for food.
The Fraser River Tidal Marsh Clean-up project highlights that targeted action can make a difference, but stopping plastic pollution at the source is essential to protect these ecosystems for the long term.
Every small action adds up. By making mindful choices, we can reduce the plastic footprint in our waterways and help protect the fragile habitats that fish and wildlife rely on. Stay updated on BCWF’s projects and volunteer opportunities by becoming a BCWF member or signing up through our volunteer portal: https://bcwf.bc.ca/volunteer/.
References:
Ocean Wise Conservation Association. (2015). Microplastic contamination in the Strait of Georgia. Vancouver Aquarium. Retrieved from https://ocean.org/
Statista. (2022, December 1). How we eat, drink and breathe microplastics. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/chart/18299/how-we-eat-drink-and-breathe-microplastics/
BCWF Watershed Team 
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