Marine Debris Obstructing Stomach of a Young Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) Stranded in France.

Gérard Mauger ⁽¹⁾, Fabrice Kerleau ⁽¹⁾, Jean-Paul Robin ⁽³⁾, Brice Dubois ⁽³⁾, Jean-François De Pierrepont ⁽³⁾, Philippe De Meersman ⁽¹⁾ & Inge Custers ⁽²⁾

(1) Groupe d'Etude des Cétacés du Cotentin, 50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France
(2) Vakgroep Biologie, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
(3) Laboratoire de Biologie et de Biotechnologie Marine de l'Université de Caen, 14000 Caen, France

At the Sixth of April 2002, a young female minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) - 3.97m in length - stranded in Normandy (France). The stomach content analysis revealed an important quantity (22 pieces) of man-made rubbish, mostly plastic bags from stores, garbage, etc., completely obstructing the digestive system.

Although plastic bags are regularly found in the intestines of different cetaceans, pinnipeds, birds, turtles, etc., we don't know yet how big the impact of this man-made rubbish is on the populations. Also, since this is the first reported case of stomach obstruction for a baleen whale in France, it needs to be interpreted with a certain caution. Before making conclusions about a causal link between the increasing marine pollution of plastic debris and the death of the animals, stomach content analysis, histopathology, ecotoxicological, ecological and ethological analysis should be carried out on a systematic basis.

Whether or not there is a direct or indirect link between human activity and the marine wildlife status, the impact of the debris on the animals is a factor that needs to be taken into account, not only by the larger public by not throwing away their rubbish at sea, but also to the industries and the government by switching to biodegradable products.