Ocean Fish Depletion by 2048?
13.12.2006 16:04 Science - Source: ScienceNewsBlog.com
Reuters reports that a shocking study published in Science found that ocean life and seafood could be depleted by as early as 2048. The scientific data also indicates that marine biodiversity has already crashed by as much as 29% since 1960. In an analysis of scientific data going back to the 1960s and historical records over a thousand years, the researchers found that marine biodiversity -- the variety of ocean fish, shellfish, birds, plants and micro-organisms -- has declined dramatically, with 29 percent of species already in collapse.
Extending this pattern into the future, the scientists calculated that by 2048 all species would be in collapse, which the researchers defined as having catches decline 90 percent from the maximum catch.
This applies to all species, from mussels and clams to tuna and swordfish, said Boris Worm, lead author of the study, which was published in the current edition of the journal Science.
Ocean mammals, including seals, killer whales and dolphins, are also affected.
"Whether we looked at tide pools or studies over the entire world's ocean, we saw the same picture emerging," Worm said in a statement. "In losing species we lose the productivity and stability of entire ecosystems. I was shocked and disturbed by how consistent these trends are -- beyond anything we suspected." Boris Worm, the lead author on the study, told Reuters that most of the destruction to ocean life is from over-fishing and habitat destruction. It was not a completely bleak outlook. The study did say that techniques like marine-life reserves and no-fishing zones could be helpful. Some types of aquaculture involving vegetarian fish could also be helpful. They better be implemented quickly because a planet without fish or very scarce in ocean-life is not going to be pleasant and will probably have serious repercussions for the land dwelling life forms on Earth.
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