Marine Life
Negitive Effects of Humanity on Marine Life
Human activities have a profound and diverse impact on oceans, causing significant threats to marine life. These include fishing, shipping, coastal development, and pollution. With advances in fishing equipment, larger ships, and new tracking technologies, many fish stocks worldwide have significantly reduced. Fish stocks on continental shelf areas are now widely considered to be fully or overexposed. Overfishing, habitat loss, the introduction of invasive species, ocean pollution, and climate change are pushing many species to extinction.
The number of marine species in the ocean is estimated to be between 700,000 and over 2 million, with around 230,000 known species currently documented. However, it is believe that 91% of the ocean species have yet to be classified and vast majority of the ocean remains unexplored, making it impossible to determine the exact number of species present.
Marine biologists have so far discovered 17,000 species thriving in the ocean depths, living entirely without sunlight, receiving energy from underwater thermal vents. Despite the incredible amount of research done on the coastal seas, it is still unknown how many species live in these shallow waters.
- Reduce Plastic Waste
- Buy things with less packaging, don't use disposable items and use reusable bags instead of plastic ones wherever possible.
- Support Sustainable Fishing
- Be mindful of where your food comes from and choose envionmentally-friendly products.
- Get Involved in Clean-Up Efforts
- Participate in local conservation efforts or organizations focused on marine life protection