Plastic pollution poses global and societal concerns, especially from discarded fishing gear, threatening seabed environments like coral reefs. This study examines the incorporation of lost and/or abandoned fishing gear - specifically synthetic lines, and filaments - into the structure of orange tree coral, along the coast of Portugal, in the North-East Atlantic Ocean. The specimens were inadvertently captured by local fishers (Sines and Cascais), with 6 % showing filaments inside their structure, raising questions about their potential impact on coral health. We discuss the implications of understanding the interactions between plastics, fishing gear, and corals, which is important for developing conservation strategies. We address the need for improved of measures aimed at reducing the impact of fishing gear on corals, emphasizing the importance of endorsing biodegradable fishing materials and supporting lost gear retrieval initiatives. Furthermore, we emphasize the urgent need to communicate these issues to both fishers and stakeholders.

中文翻译：

---

将废弃和丢失的渔具纳入葡萄牙大西洋沿岸 Dendrophyllia ramea 的结构中

塑料污染引起了全球和社会关注，特别是废弃渔具造成的塑料污染，威胁着珊瑚礁等海底环境。这项研究调查了东北大西洋葡萄牙沿岸丢失和/或废弃的渔具（特别是合成线和细丝）与橙树珊瑚结构的结合情况。这些标本是当地渔民（锡尼什和卡斯卡伊斯）无意中捕获的，其中 6% 在其结构内显示出细丝，这引发了人们对其对珊瑚健康的潜在影响的疑问。我们讨论了了解塑料、渔具和珊瑚之间相互作用的影响，这对于制定保护策略非常重要。我们强调需要改进旨在减少渔具对珊瑚影响的措施，强调认可可生物降解的捕捞材料和支持丢失渔具找回举措的重要性。此外，我们强调迫切需要向渔民和利益相关者传达这些问题。