Life at sea is not as simple and carefree as it may seem at first glance. In our difficult times, it is difficult for everyone to live - according to the new report of the World Wide Fund for Nature, the combination of uncontrolled fishing and climate change reduced the population of the world's oceans almost by half.
The study, in which 1,234 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and fish were studied, showed that between 1970 and 2012 the population of the world's oceans decreased by 49 percent. The populations of certain species decreased even more significantly. Thus, commercially valuable species, such as tuna and mackerel, were reduced by 74%, and sea cucumbers (considered as a delicacy in some countries) decreased by 90% - especially their number decreased in the Galapagos archipelago and in the Red Sea. Sea cucumber fishing is currently prohibited in the Galapagos Islands, but poaching has not been eradicated.
The report also states that 1/3 of all algae species have already become extinct, and coral reefs may disappear by 2050.
The report says that there is hope to rectify the situation. To do this, governments should pay attention to protecting the ocean and climate and agree on joint action at the UN summit on climate change, which will be held in the fall in Paris.
Fortunately for the oceans, changes are already underway in their policies to protect and conserve them in different parts of the world. In recent years, researchers have identified the conditions that will allow marine life to avoid extinction. To do this, you need to create large and isolated areas with strict bans on fishing and industrial development. If these plans work, some populations can recover.
And now, as we found out, in the ocean there is a sea of free space for fish.
Based on Popular Science
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