Asian Journal of Aquatic Sciences, April 2021. Vol 4, Issue (1) 13-20 Diterima/Received : 19 Maret 2021 ajoas.ejournal.unri.ac.id Disetujui/Accepted : 31 Maret 2021 e-issn: 2716-4608 p-issn: 2655-366X ANALYSIS OF MICROPLASTIC CONTENT IN LOKAN ( Geloina erosa) IN NORTH BEACH WATERS OF BENGKALIS ISLAND, RIAU PROVINCE Nian Sari 1 , Bintal Amin 1 , Dessy Yoswaty 1 1 Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Universitas Riau, Pekanbaru * niansari0401@gmail.com ABSTRACT The coastal waters of Pulau Bengkalis are located in the Malacca Strait and it is suspected that some of the people around the area throw away garbage and end up at sea, especially plastic waste. This research was conducted in July 2020 in the northern coastal waters of Bengkalis Island, Bengkalis Regency. The aim of this study was to analyze the type, abundance and relationship of abundance with microplastic size in Lokan soft tissue. This study uses a survey method. Data collection is primary data, data obtained during the study is presented in tables and graphs, then analyzed statistically. The results showed 3 types of microplastics, namely fibre, film and fragments. The total abundance of microplastics at station 1 was 13.199 particles/g and the total abundance at station 2 was 13.583 particles / g. The total abundance of microplastics at the large size was 8.942 particles/g and the total abundance was higher at the small size, namely 15.774 particles/g. The results of the regression test showed that the abundance of microplastics had a weak relationship with the weight and length of the fish with a correlation coefficient between 0.21-0.40. Keywords: Fragmen, Film, Fiber, Lokan, Kelimpahan, Pulau Bengkalis, Mikroplastik I. PENDAHULUAN Pada umumnya, proses dekomposisi plastik berlangsung sangat lambat. Diperlukan waktu hingga ratusan tahun agar plastik terdegradasi menjadi mikroplastik dan nanoplastik melalui berbagai proses fisik, kimiawi, maupun biologis. Dampak kontaminasi sampah plastik pada kehidupan di laut dipengaruhi oleh ukuran sampah tersebut. Sampah plastik yang berukuran besar, seperti benang pancing dan jaring, seringkali menyebabkan hewan-hewan terbelit. Sampah plastik yang lebih kecil, seperti tutup botol, korek api, dan pelet plastik, dapat tertelan oleh organisme perairan dan menyebabkan penyumbatan usus serta potensi keracunan bahan kimia. Sementara itu, mikroplastik dapat dicerna bahkan oleh organisme terkecil di habitat tersebut dan menimbulkan masalah di lingkungan perairan laut. Mikroplastik merupakan jenis sampah plastik yang berukuran lebih kecil dari 5 mm. Batas bawah ukuran partikel yang termasuk ke dalam kelompok mikroplastik belum didefinisikan secara pasti namun kebanyakan penelitian mengambil objek minimal 300 μm. Mikroplastik terbagi menjadi 2 kategori ukuran yaitu (1-5 mm) dan kecil (<1 mm) [1]. Berdasarkan [2], disebutkan bahwa mikroplastik ditemukan dalam seafood seperti ikan, udang, dan kerang, sedangkan pada bahan makanan lain, mikroplastik ditemukan dalam madu, beer dan garam dapur. Penelitian mengenai mikroplastik