MARINE ANIMALS FACE EXTINCTION

“Conservation is the preservation of life on Earth, and that, above all else, is worth fighting for.” – Rob Stewart, documentary filmmaker/author.

“If you think the ocean isn’t important, imagine the Earth without it. Mars comes to mind. No ocean, no life support system.” – Dr. Sylvia Earle, American oceanographer.

You might be asking about the meaning of Rob Stewarts’s quote, what could be the message he wants us to understand: The significance is to help conserve the life of someone, or something, that needs to be safe from risk of extinction.
We comprehend that the risk of many animals from the land, the forest, and even from Iceland, is increasing. However, we need to acknowledge that marine species are at a much higher and immense risk of vanishing from our planet. According to the website article “11 of the Most Endangered Species in the Ocean,” posted at Earth.org and written by journalist Olivia Lai, who is passionate about wildlife and ocean conservation, threats that include over-fishing, habitat loss, environmental degradation and pollution, and climate change have tormented various marine creatures to the very border of disappearance.
Just take a moment to look through the several marine species facing the highest danger of vanishing from our oceans, please:
The Vaquita is the most critically endangered marine mammal, with about 10 individuals of this type (dolphins) remaining in 2023. The population has decreased terribly in the last few years because of fishery bycatch – getting entangled and drowned in gillnets intended for other fish.
The North Atlantic Right Whale is one of the large whales in danger of extinction, with only 366 individuals carrying on. These whale species are at risk from ship collisions, fishing nets, and climate change.
The Chang Jiang (or Yangtze) Finless Porpoise population is only at about 1,000 and at risk of being critically endangered. This river population has been decreasing because of overfishing reducing its prey, and getting entangled in fishing gear, struck by boats or ships, and illegal fishing activity.
The Hawaiian Monk Seal is one of the two last monk seal species, with a total population of about 1,400. The monk seal has long been killed illegally and hunted for its meat, oil, and skin but now faces pollution and fishing bycatch threats.
The Hawksbills Sea Turtle is critically endangered because of the loss of nesting sites, fisheries bycatch, and coastal development, as is the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle, with harsher storms, changing seas and sand conditions along with other human impacts also to blame.
The Giant Manta Ray is at high risk due to overfishing, entrapment in fishing gear, bottom nets, and microplastics that are ingested.
The Whale Shark (a type of shark, not a whale) is considered endangered because of the sale of its meat and fins and getting injured by boat propellers, not to mention impacts of water pollution and even noise pollution.
The Northern Fur Seal population is decreasing because they are hunted extensively for their fur, and climate change.
The Southern Bluefin Tuna is a long-endangered breed of tuna, due mostly to overfishing and illegal fishing. Industrial-raised individuals stay on floating farms for several months, and when they grow up, they are typically harvested, frozen, and shipped to Japanese markets.
The Dugong (cousin to Florida’s manatee) is endangered mostly due to coastal development that robs their habitat, or industrial activities. It also often becomes a victim of bycatch.
Finally, Coral Reefs so important to much of our sea life are particularly vulnerable to human activities, including pollution, rising temperatures, and fishing activity. More than 25 corals are listed as threatened or endangered.
By now, you probably understand that these magnificent and innocent marine animals need a lot of help because of all the danger they are going through today, starting decades ago.

Share this knowledge with friends or family – and if you prefer to donate to part of these marine creatures, please visit the World Wildlife Fund website for more information at: https://www.worldwildlife.org.

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