The Next Great Extinction Crisis Is Under Way Under the Sea

[Omaha Steve]

Overfishing, pollution, and climate change have contributed to a devastating decline in marine life.



Manta ray. (Photo: Getty Images)


http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/09/16/ocean-wildlife-population-down-half?cmpid=tpdaily-eml-2015-09-16

SEP 16, 2015 Taylor Hill is an associate editor at TakePart covering environment and wildlife.

Imagine the outcry if half the life on land had disappeared over the past 45 years.

That’s what has happened in the world’s oceans, according to a new report that finds that global populations of marine species have plummeted 49 percent since 1970.

Certain fish that people rely on for food suffered even steeper declines: Populations of tuna, bonito, and mackerel dropped by 74 percent, according to the study, which was compiled by the World Wildlife Fund and reviewed by researchers at the Zoological Society of London.

By compiling data from 2,337 individual sources, including population estimates from scientific studies and databases, the researchers were able to estimate the changes in species populations from 1970 to 2012.

FULL story at link.


Sea cucumber. (Photo: Jeff Rotman/Getty Images)

[GummyBearz]

1. Anyone who eats sea food should be shamed off the internet

I hate sea food. I eat cows. Shame on all the rest

[yuiyoshida]

2. Most of Japan eats seafood

so, what do you suggest? Nuke them?

[Art_from_Ark]

3. I eat some seafood,

but these days I have been limiting myself to mainly scallops and clams, which are probably in no danger of extinction. I do occasionally buy sashimi when it's marked down, because the store will throw it out if it isn't sold by closing time.

[GummyBearz]

9. It was sarcasm

Besides we could just poison all the sea food then they couldnt eat it any more

[yuiyoshida]

10. who is "we" ?

Why am I reminded of a the Lone Ranger and Tonto suddenly?

[GummyBearz]

11. We refers to all non-sea food eaters

...in this instance

[yuiyoshida]

12. please don't include me...in your "we"

I love seafood. I love crab, sushi, sashimi, chirashi... I love Japanese food, Korean food, Chinese food, Malaysian, Indonesian, Singaporean, and even some food from the Philippines! Seafood comes in all variety from fish to shellfish... I love Maine Lobster, and Pacific Salmon.. Ebi, Kanikama, ika, Unagi, Hamachi, Maguro, saba, sake, Tai, Tako, Takoyaki, Tobiko, Hotate, ikura, uni, Amaebi, Namakaki, Kane, love it all!

[GummyBearz]

14. As a sea food eater you are not included in "we"

As I said it we = non-sea food eaters... don't worry

[GliderGuider]

4. Humans have also extirpated 95% of all wild terrestrial vertebrates

They have been replaced by enormous quantities of cattle, pigs, chickens and your neighbour's children.

[The2ndWheel]

8. The price of progress

If it's a finite planet, then we can't have everything.

[davidpdx]

5. I love snorkeling in the ocean

I've done that in Thailand and a few times in the Philippines. Last January I was in Palawan (Philippines) in an area called Honda Bay which is very beautiful. I took a island hopping tour and did some snorkeling. There was one island where the surf wasn't real strong that I was able to get out in the water, but all the coral close to the shore was dead. There was another older guy in our tour and he was going out beyond the marker and came back and told me that there was some live coral further out. I swam out with him into the deeper water and the coral was a bit better also there were more fish. I'm not a strong swimmer so I didn't stay out long, but it was amazing. It is so sad to see the ocean literally dying.

[Renew Deal]

6. You killed the Little Mermaid?

[raouldukelives]

7. "Weird. Huh. Hey! How is my Shell stock doing?"

The mortgaging of the future for all for the benefit of a few today continues unabated. We ain't seen nothing yet.

[marmar]

13. K/R