Onset of nutrient consumption during early life stage digestive system development of two tuna species (Thunnus orientalis and Thunnus albacares).

To specify the timing of exogenous nutrient consumption in the larvae of two commercially important tuna species, the Pacific bluefin tuna (PBF) Thunnus orientalis and the yellowfin tuna (YFT) Thunnus albacares, the gene expressions of peptide transporter 1 (PEPT1) were examined. The mRNA expressions of PEPT1 first occurred at 2 days post hatching (dph) in PBF larvae and 3 dph for the YFT, and PEPT1 was found to only be expressed in the intestinal tract. The histological changes of the digestive tract of the YFT larvae were observed and compared to PBF larvae from a previous study. The intestines were developed at the hatching day for both species. It was found that the developmental timing of internal organs differed between the species, with the YFT showing an approximately one-day delay. The major organs such as liver, pancreas and gall bladder that excrete digestive enzymes appeared at 1 dph for PBF and 2 dph for YFT. The development of external morphological features was similar to organ development timings, with mouth-opening and first feeding starting at 2 dph for PBF, and 3 dph for YFT. Growth during the first month is rapid and variable for both species, ranging from 1.06 to 1.56 mm/d. Our findings provide new information about the early onset of feeding and larval development for the two species which would contribute to future aquaculture.

Controlled Release of Metformin Hydrochloride from Core-Shell Nanofibers with Fish Sarcoplasmic Protein.

Background and Objectives: A coaxial electrospinning technique was used to produce core/shell nanofibers of a polylactic acid (PLA) as a shell and a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) containing metformin hydrochloride (MH) as a core. Materials and Methods: Fish sarcoplasmic protein (FSP) was extracted from fresh bonito and incorporated into nanofiber at various concentrations to investigate the influence on properties of the coaxial nanofibers. The morphology, chemical structure and thermal properties of the nanofibers were studied. Results: The results show that uniform and bead-free structured nanofibers with diameters ranging from 621 nm to 681 nm were obtained. A differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis shows that FSP had a reducing effect on the crystallinity of the nanofibers. Furthermore, the drug release profile of electrospun fibers was analyzed using the spectrophotometric method. Conclusions: The nanofibers showed prolonged and sustained release and the first order kinetic seems to be more suitable to describe the release. MTT assay suggests that the produced drug and protein loaded coaxial nanofibers are non-toxic and enhance cell attachment. Thus, these results demonstrate that the produced nanofibers had the potential to be used for diabetic wound healing applications.

Children's Hair Mercury Concentrations and Seafood Consumption in Five Regions of Japan.

Exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) during the foetal and postnatal periods is known to have adverse effects on children's development. However, little attention has been paid to MeHg exposure during early childhood in Japan. To examine the regional differences in MeHg exposure and seafood consumption and the association between MeHg exposure and seafood consumption and dental metal restorations, we measured the total mercury (T-Hg) concentration in hair as an MeHg exposure index, and using questionnaires, we measured the frequency and amount of seafood consumption and the presence of dental metal restorations in 118 children aged 3-6 years in five regions of Japan. The arithmetic and geometric means of the T-Hg concentrations in hair were 1.03 and 0.87 ppm, respectively, and approximately 40% of the children exceeded the United States Environmental Protection Agency recommendation of 1.0 ppm. Significant regional differences in the hair T-Hg concentrations were found among the five regions, and the regional differences were consistent with the traditional regional patterns of eating fatty fish. According to the regression analysis, the consumption of fatty fish, particularly tuna/swordfish, had a significant effect on hair T-Hg concentrations, whereas age, sex, the materials used for dental metal restorations, and other types of seafood or fish/shellfish had no significant effects.

Ultrasensitive and highly selective detection of bioaccumulation of methyl-mercury in fish samples via Ag°/Hg° amalgamation.

Methylmercury (CH3Hg(+)), the common organic source of mercury, is well-known as one of the most toxic compounds that is more toxic than inorganic or elemental mercury. In seabeds, the deposited Hg(2+) ions are converted into CH3Hg(+) by bacteria, where they are subsequently consumed and bioaccumulated in the tissue of fish, and finally, to enter the human diet, causing severe health problems. Therefore, sensitive and selective detection of bioaccumulation of CH3Hg(+) in fish samples is desirable. However, selective assay of CH3Hg(+) in the mercury-containing samples has been seriously hampered by the difficulty to distinguish CH3Hg(+) from ionic mercury. We report here that metal amalgamation, a natural phenomenon occurring between mercury atoms and certain metal atoms, combining with DNA-protected silver nanoparticles, can be used to detect CH3Hg(+) with high sensitivity and superior selectivity over Hg(2+) and other heavy metals. In our proposed approach, discrimination between CH3Hg(+) and Hg(2+) ions was realized by forming Ag/Hg amalgam with a CH3Hg(+)-specific scaffold. We have found that Ag/Hg amalgam can be formed on a CH3Hg(+)-specific DNA template between silver atoms and mercury atoms but cannot between silver atoms and CH3Hg(+). With a dye-labeled DNA strand, the sensor can detect CH3Hg(+) down to the picomolar level, which is >125-fold sensitive over Hg(2+). Moreover, the presence of 50-fold Hg(2+) and 10(6)-fold other metal ions do not interfere with the CH3Hg(+) detection. The results shown herein have important implications for the fast, easy, and selective detection and monitoring of CH3Hg(+) in environmental and biological samples.

Preparation of photocrosslinked fish elastin polypeptide/microfibrillated cellulose composite gels with elastic properties for biomaterial applications.

Photocrosslinked hydrogels reinforced by microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) were prepared from a methacrylate-functionalized fish elastin polypeptide and MFC dispersed in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). First, a water-soluble elastin peptide with a molecular weight of ca. 500 g/mol from the fish bulbus arteriosus was polymerized by N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), a condensation reagent, and then modified with 2-isocyanatoethyl methacrylate (MOI) to yield a photocrosslinkable fish elastin polypeptide. The product was dissolved in DMSO and irradiated with UV light in the presence of a radical photoinitiator. We obtained hydrogels successfully by substitution of DMSO with water. The composite gel with MFC was prepared by UV irradiation of the photocrosslinkable elastin polypeptide mixed with dispersed MFC in DMSO, followed by substitution of DMSO with water. The tensile test of the composite gels revealed that the addition of MFC improved the tensile properties, and the shape of the stress-strain curve of the composite gel became more similar to the typical shape of an elastic material with an increase of MFC content. The rheology measurement showed that the elastic modulus of the composite gel increased with an increase of MFC content. The cell proliferation test on the composite gel showed no toxicity.

Antimicrobial function of SHßAP, a novel hemoglobin ß chain-related antimicrobial peptide, isolated from the liver of skipjack tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis.

A 2.3 kDa of antimicrobial peptide was purified from an acidified liver extract of skipjack tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis, by preparative acid-urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and C18 reversed-phase HPLC. A comparison of the amino acid sequence of the purified peptide with those of other known polypeptides revealed high homology with the C-terminus of hemoglobin ß-chain; thus, this peptide was designated as the Skipjack Hemoglobin ß chain-related Antimicrobial Peptide (SHßAP). SHßAP showed potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus iniae (minimal effective concentrations [MECs], 6.5-57.0 µg/mL), Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli D31, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica, Shigella sonnei, and two Vibrio parahaemolyticus species (MECs, 2.0-19.0 µg/mL), and against Candida albicans (MEC; 12.0 µg/mL) without significant hemolytic activity. Antimicrobial activity of this peptide was heatstable and pH resistant but is sensitive to proteases and salt. SHßAP did not show membrane permeabilization and killing ability. The secondary structural prediction and the homology modeling expected that this peptide formed an amphipathic α-helical structure. This is the first report the purification of a novel antimicrobial peptide related to the C-terminus of hemoglobin ß-chain from marine fish.

Comparison of microstructures and phase compositions of artificial and bone-derived hydroxyapatites by transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive electron spectroscopy.

Biological problems associated with sintered implants fabricated from artificially synthesized hydroxyapatite include selective dissolution at grain boundaries, microstructural disintegration in the body due to particle loosening, and slow crack growth at the implant surface. In addition, mechanical degradation has been shown to be significant, thus limiting their application as load-bearing medical implants. In contrast, bone-derived hydroxyapatite bioceramics have highly dissolution-resistant properties and excellent biocompatibility in the body. They are also easy to synthesize by thermal decomposition of animal bone. In this study, microstructural observations and crystal phase analysis of bone-derived hydroxyapatite were investigated by TEM and EDS using sintered hydroxyapatite samples. In addition, a comparative investigation into elemental distributions and the microstructures of artificial hydroxyapatite, bovine, and tuna bone-derived hydroxyapatites was performed. Bone-derived HA consists mainly of HA and a small amount of MgO. Hot-pressed HA compacts showed homogeneous microstructures and densities of 95-97%, however, grain sizes and microstructures varied with the starting powders.

Exploring odontocete depredation rates in a pelagic longline fishery.

Several odontocete species depredate catch and bait from fishing gear, resulting in their bycatch and causing substantial economic costs. There are no known mitigation methods for odontocete depredation in pelagic longline fisheries that are effective, do not harm odontocetes and are commercially viable. Understanding odontocetes' depredation strategies can contribute to mitigating this human-wildlife conflict. Using observer data from the Hawaii-based tuna longline fishery, this study summarized teleost and elasmobranch species-specific mean posterior odontocete depredation rates using a simple Bayesian binomial likelihood estimator with a Bayes-Laplace prior. Depredation rates of species with sufficient sample sizes ranged from a high of 1.2% (1.1 to 1.3 95% highest posterior density interval or HDI) for shortbill spearfish to a low of 0.002% (0.001 to 0.003 95% HDI) for blue shark. Depredation of catch is a rare event in this fishery, occurring in about 6% of sets. When depredation did occur, most frequently odontocetes depredated a small proportion of the catch, however, there was large variability in depredation rates between teleost species. For example, bigeye tuna was two times more likely to be depredated than yellowfin tuna (odds ratio = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.8-2.3, P<0.0001). For sets with depredation, 10% and 2% of sets had depredation of over half of the captured bigeye tuna and combined teleosts, respectively. All elasmobranch species had relatively low depredation rates, where only 7 of almost 0.5M captured elasmobranchs were depredated. Odontocetes selectively depredate a subset of the teleost species captured within sets, possibly based on net energy value, chemical, visual, acoustic and textural characteristics and body size, but not median length, which was found to be unrelated to depredation rate (Pearson's r = 0.14, 95% CI: -0.26 to 0.50, p = 0.49). Study findings provide evidence to support the identification and innovation of effective and commercially viable methods to mitigate odontocete depredation and bycatch.

Environmental and ecological risk of microplastics in the surface waters and gastrointestinal tract of skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) around the Lakshadweep Islands, India.

The presence of microplastics (MPs) in marine ecosystems is widespread and extensive. They have even reached the deepest parts of the ocean and polar regions. The number of articles on plastic pollution has increased in recent years, but few have investigated the MPs from oceanic islands which are biodiversity hotspots. We investigated the possible microplastic contamination their source and characteristics in surface waters off Kavaratti Island and in the gastrointestinal tract (GT) of skipjack tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis collected from Kavaratti Island of the Lakshadweep archipelago. A total of 424 MP particles were isolated from the surface water samples collected from off Kavaratti Island with an average abundance of 5 ± 1nos./L. A total of 117 MPs were recovered from the GT of skipjack tuna from 30 individual fishes. This points to a potential threat of MP contamination in seafood around the world since this species has a high value in local and international markets. Fiber and blue color were the most common microplastic morphotypes and colors encountered, respectively, both from surface water and GT of fish. Smaller MPs (0.01-1 mm) made up a greater portion of the recovered materials, and most of them were secondary MPs. Polyethylene and polypropylene were the most abundant polymers found in this study. The Pollution Load Index (1.3 ± 0.21) of the surface water and skipjack tuna (1 ± 0.7) indicates a minor ecological risk for the coral islands, while the Polymer Hazard Index highlights the ecological risk of polymers, even at low MP concentrations. This pioneer study sheds preliminary light on the abundance, properties, and environmental risks of MPs to this highly biodiverse ecosystem.

New insight into biomarkers of human mercury exposure using naturally occurring mercury stable isotopes.

Human exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) and elemental mercury vapor (Hg(0)(g)) are often estimated using total Hg concentrations in hair and urine, respectively. We investigated whether Hg stable isotopes could be used to better distinguish between exposure to Hg(0)(g) versus MeHg. We found that hair from North American dental professionals was characterized by high positive Δ(199)Hg values (mean = 1.86‰, 1 SD = 0.12‰, n = 11). This confirms that among people who regularly consume fish, total Hg concentrations in hair reflect exposure to MeHg. In contrast, we found that urine from the same individuals was characterized by a range of Δ(199)Hg values (0.29 to 1.77‰, 2 SD = 0.06‰, n = 12) that were significantly correlated to the number of dental amalgams in each individual's mouth. We hypothesize that fish-derived MeHg is demethylated within the body, causing mass-dependent fractionation and the excretion of inorganic Hg in urine. Mercury in urine therefore represents a mixture of demethylated fish-derived MeHg and amalgam-derived inorganic Hg. We estimate that the majority (>70%) of Hg in urine from individuals with <10 dental amalgams is derived from ingestion of MeHg in fish. These data suggest that within populations that consume fish, urine total Hg concentrations may overestimate Hg exposure from personal dental amalgams.

From prey to predators: Evidence of microplastic trophic transfer in tuna and large pelagic species in the southwestern Tropical Atlantic.

Plastic pollution is present in most marine environments; however, contamination in pelagic predators, including species of economic interest, is still poorly understood. This study aims to access the macro- and microplastic contamination in tuna and large pelagic species and verify whether a trophic transfer occurs from prey to tunas captured by two fleets in the Southwestern Tropical Atlantic (SWTA). We combined different methodological approaches to analyse the intake of macro- and microplastics. In addition to examining the plastics in the fish' stomachs, we investigated the contamination in the prey retrieved from the guts of predators. A low frequency of occurrence (3%) of macroplastic was detected in the tuna and large pelagic species; conversely, we observed a high frequency of microplastic in the tuna's stomachs (100%) and prey analysed (70%). We evinced the trophic transfer of microplastics by analysing the ingestion rate of particles in prey retrieved from the tuna stomachs. In the 34 analysed prey, we detected 355 microplastic particles. The most contaminated prey were cephalopods and fishes of the Bramidae family. The most frequent microplastic shapes in both prey and tuna stomachs were foams, pellets and fibres (<1 mm). A variety of polymers were identified; the most frequent were styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), polyamide (PA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene (PE). Our findings enhance scientific knowledge of how the ecological behaviour of marine species can affect microplastic intake.

Assessment of microplastic contamination in an eastern Pacific tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) and evaluation of its health risk implication through molecular docking and metabolomics studies.

This work investigated microplastic (MP) pollution in a commercially-important tuna species Katsuwonus pelamis (K. pelamis) from the Eastern Pacific and health implications. 125 MPs were extracted from gills, esophagus, stomachs, intestinal tracts, and muscle of K. pelamis. MPs in the esophagus was the highest, ∼7.6 times higher than that in the gill. Polyester and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were dominant. Molecular docking implied that PET stabilized the complex via forming 4 new hydrogen bonds that interacted with Arg83, Gln246, Thr267, and Gly268, given that PET can enter glycerol kinase protein active pocket. Metabonomic results suggested that Glycerol 3-phosphate up expressed 1.66 more times that of control groups with no MPs in the muscle. This confirmed that MPs would lie in the glycerol kinase protein active pocket, which triggered menace to K. pelamis. The results provided insights into suggested the potential influence of MPs on the sustainability of fisheries and seafood safety.

Effects of gear modifications in a North Atlantic pelagic longline fishery: A multiyear study.

The threat of population declines caused by pelagic longline fisheries in the Atlantic has increased the concern to find strategies that minimize the bycatch and mortality of non-target marine animals. Gear modification, such as the use of circle hooks instead of conventional J-hooks, has been identified as an effective bycatch reduction strategy in different pelagic longline fisheries around the world. This study aimed to verify the effectiveness of the use of circle hooks by quantifying catch rates, relative size selectivity, and anatomical hooking position for the most common target species (swordfish, Xiphias gladius, and blue shark, Prionace glauca), and some bycatch species (loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta, and shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus) caught by the Azorean longline fishing fleet. The trial was conducted for five consecutive years (2000-2004) using eight different types of hooks. In general, the blue shark catches using circle hooks were significantly higher compared to J (Mustad 9/0). The circle hooks also showed high probabilities of catching juvenile blue sharks. Conversely, the circle hooks were efficient in reducing the loggerhead sea turtle bycatch and were related to fewer catches of small sea turtle individuals. The use of circle hooks was also associated with reduced swordfish catches compared to J (Mustad 9/0), and the effect of hook types on length at capture was only significant for Circle (L. & P. 18/0-CLP18) and Ringed Tuna (RT). No significant differences were observed comparing hook type to either catch rates or size selectivity for shortfin mako. Additionally, circle hooks were more likely to lodge in the mouth than in deeper anatomical positions, when compared to J (Mustad 9/0), for the four species analysed. The present study demonstrated that the use of circle hooks could mitigate the impact of the pelagic longline fisheries in the Azores by decreasing the bycatch of sea turtles and reducing animal injuries caused by deep hooking.

Evaluation of a gold-nanoparticle-modified carbon-fiber microelectrode to quantify mercury in canned tuna sold in Ecuador.

Seafood consumption is the primary exposure route for trace metals like mercury. Accordingly, canned tuna meat has been focused on by researchers because of the potential bioaccumulation of high amounts of mercury. This study aimed to test a novel and reliable electroanalytical method employing a working electrode consisting of gold-nanoparticle-modified carbon microfibers to quantify total mercury in canned tuna samples. Determination was achieved via differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. The proposed method had a limit of detection of 3.9781 ± 0.0001 µg L-1 and a limit of quantification of 33.6634 ± 0.0001 µg L-1, with a sensitivity of 0.3275 nA µg L-1. The modified electrode was evaluated in samples taken from three canned tuna brands sold in the Sangolquí parish in Rumiñahui, Ecuador. These brands, coded A, B, and C, represent 47.92%, 27.08%, and 11.98% of all canned tuna sold in the Ecuadorian market, respectively. The resulting respective total mercury concentrations were 0.5999 ± 0.0001 mg kg-1; 0.9387 ± 0.0001 mg kg-1; and 0.3442 ± 0.0001 mg kg-1 for A, B, and C. Method accuracy was determined through the recovery percentages of ≥98%, which indicated acceptable accuracy for the final optimized method. Mean mercury concentrations for all samples did not represent a carcinogenic risk for consumers. However, the values obtained for potential no-carcinogenic risk and daily consumption rate suggest that consumers of tuna canned in water, particularly brand C, may be at risk.

Development of active packaging film based on poly (lactic acid) incorporated with Piper betel leaf ethanolic extract and its application in the shelf-life extension of tuna meat.

Active packaging films based on poly (lactic acid) (PLA) were developed by adding different concentrations (5 wt% and 10 wt%) of betel leaf (Piper betel) ethanolic extract (BLEE). The extract showed excellent antioxidant (80.2 %) and antimicrobial properties (18.05 and 16.05 mm against S. aureus and E. coli respectively). The films' structural, functional, and mechanical attributes were studied, along with their potential for extending the shelf life of tuna meat. The water solubility and water permeability were reduced with the incorporation of BLEE; while the tensile strength showed an inverse relationship with the concentration, 214.5 kg/cm2 (5 wt%), and to 307.6 kg/cm2 (10 wt%). The lipid oxidation in PLA-BLEE-packed tuna meat stored under refrigeration (7 days) showed a significant reduction, which could be attributed to the phenolic migration from the films. The new PLA-BLEE films with significant antibacterial and film attributes could be used in food packaging and to extend the shelf life of commodities that have been packaged.

Oxygen utilization and the branchial pressure gradient during ram ventilation of the shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus: is lamnid shark-tuna convergence constrained by elasmobranch gill morphology?

Ram ventilation and gill function in a lamnid shark, the shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus, were studied to assess how gill structure may affect the lamnid-tuna convergence for high-performance swimming. Despite differences in mako and tuna gill morphology, mouth gape and basal swimming speeds, measurements of mako O(2) utilization at the gills (53.4±4.2%) and the pressure gradient driving branchial flow (96.8±26.1 Pa at a mean swimming speed of 38.8±5.8 cm s(-1)) are similar to values reported for tunas. Also comparable to tunas are estimates of the velocity (0.22±0.03 cm s(-1)) and residence time (0.79±0.14 s) of water though the interlamellar channels of the mako gill. However, mako and tuna gills differ in the sites of primary branchial resistance. In the mako, approximately 80% of the total branchial resistance resides in the septal channels, structures inherent to the elasmobranch gill that are not present in tunas. The added resistance at this location is compensated by a correspondingly lower resistance at the gill lamellae accomplished through wider interlamellar channels. Although greater interlamellar spacing minimizes branchial resistance, it also limits lamellar number and results in a lower total gill surface area for the mako relative to tunas. The morphology of the elasmobranch gill thus appears to constrain gill area and, consequently, limit mako aerobic performance to less than that of tunas.

Presence of microplastics in commercial canned tuna.

The present study aims to determine the presence of synthetic polymeric microparticles (MPs) in samples of canned tuna. An analysis procedure of these microparticles was developed and tested. Four brands of tuna marketed in Ecuador canned both in water and oil were analysed. A significant presence of MPs was found: 692 ± 120 MPs/100 g of tuna in water and 442 ± 84 MPs/100 g of tuna in oil. Random samples of the liquid covering the tuna fish in the cans showed 6 MPs/mL in the case of water and 5 MPs/mL in the case of oil-containing samples. A total of 90% of the reported particles presented a size range of 1-50 µm. The number of MPs present in canned tuna suggests that the ingredients and inputs of the canning process greatly contribute to micro polymers. The identification of the microparticles using fluorescence and micro-FTIR spectrometry revealed that PET, polystyrene and nylon were the most frequent MPs present in the samples analysed.

The ingestion of large plastics by recreationally caught southern bluefin tuna Thunnus maccoyii off southern Australia.

The occurrence of plastic ingestion by fish is increasing around the world, however there are currently very few studies focusing on the ingestion of macro (>20 mm) and mega (>100 mm) plastics in pelagic predatory fish, particularly in Australian waters. Further to this, information on plastic ingestion in recreationally caught fish is deficient. We report on two cases of macroplastic ingestion and another case of megaplastic ingestion by southern bluefin tuna Thunnus maccoyii (Castelnau, 1872), caught recreationally in Tasmania and Victoria. The plastics ingested ranged from 62 to 283 mm. Despite the large obstructive shapes of the pieces of plastic, all three specimens possessed a healthy body mass, with one actively feeding at the time of capture. These preliminary records contribute to the limited information on the effects of plastic pollution on high value recreationally and commercially important pelagic fish in Australia.

The problem of marine litters for cultured teleost.

Here, characteristics of marine litter ingested by Pacific bluefin tuna (PBF, Thunnus orientalis) juveniles under captive conditions were investigated. Swimming speeds of PBF juveniles with pseud-ingested polystyrene chips were compared, and mortality due to polystyrene chip ingestion in cultured teleosts (red sea bream, greater amberjack, and white trevally) was examined in the laboratory. Marine litter ingested by the PBF juveniles included mainly microplastics. The body size of dead specimens with ingested marine litter was significantly smaller than that of other dead fish. We suggest that when the PBF juveniles ingested the marine litter, they died due to energy exhaustion within a few days. All the examined species ingested polystyrene chips, but no related mortality was confirmed. These results suggest that only the PBF could not vomit or excrete the ingested marine litter. This study indicates that the marine litter problem significantly affects the aquaculture industry, especially tuna aquaculture.

Feeding strategy of pelagic fishes caught in aggregated schools and vulnerability to ingesting anthropogenic items in the western equatorial Atlantic Ocean.

The present study aims to assess the diet composition of five commercial pelagic fishes caught in aggregated schools in the western Atlantic, quantify plastic and anthropogenic items in stomach contents, and analyze the possible relationship between their diet composition and the occurrence of anthropogenic items. We collected 807 stomachs from tunas (Thunnus albacares, Thunnus obesus, and Katsuwonus pelamis) and tuna-like species (Coryphaena hippurus and Elagatis bipinnulata) targeted by fisheries around data buoys in the western tropical Atlantic between 2011 and 2017. We quantified items of an anthropogenic origin by calculating frequency of occurrence. Feeding strategy was determined using a 3D scatterplot. Correspondence analysis (CA) was performed to determine the relationship between food items and the occurrence of anthropogenic materials (synthetic or organic). Fishing ropes and chum were the main items of an anthropogenic origin. Rainbow runner (E. bipinnulata) stomachs had the highest percentage of such items, whereas none were found in the bigeye tuna. The most affected species by anthropogenic items feed on epipelagic prey items, such as flying fishes. Organisms that aggregate around floating objects on the ocean surface and have a generalist diet are more likely to ingest synthetic items either accidently or actively. The present findings underscore the importance of environmental education programs to mitigate the impact of marine debris on organisms and ensure the health of individuals as well as the balance of the food web to which these species belong.