Consequences Of The Killing Of Marine Life

Many Marine organisms are facing unnatural extinctions that not only threaten the functioning of ecosystems but also, to a large extent, affect ecological issues. The international union for conservation of nature (IUCN) has already listed 368 Marine species that are either endangered or on the verge of extinction.

1.2 Endangered sea life

1.2.a Hawksbill Turtle

It is estimated that the number of hawksbill turtles in the world’s oceans has declined by 80 %in the last century. Hawksbill turtles have been brutally killed for some time in the tourist trade because of the sale of their meat and shells. Even though the collection and sale of tortoiseshell eggs are already banned in many countries, but illegal traders still engage in this activity.

1.2b.Steller sea lion

since the 1960s, their Numbers have declined by more than 60 percent because of threats from nature and humans. The high risk of killer whale predation, as well as the fishing and harvesting of meat, oil, skins and other byproducts by native alaskans and Canadians, have left sea lions vulnerable and with less room to live.

1.2.cBlue Whale

The blue whale is the largest animals in the earth that ever survive, measuring more than 30 meters in length weighing about 150 tons. However, more than 300,000 blue whales have been reported roaming the ocean.,about 200,000 blue whales have been killed, and there are about 3,000 to 5,000 left, less than 3 percent.

1.2dVaquita

Living in shallow waters off the coast of Mexico’s Baja peninsula, the Vaquita is the world’s smallest and most endangered cetacean. The heavy use of gill net fishing has endangered this Marine species, leading to a gradual decline since 1940.In fact, there are now an estimated 60 Vaquita left. Studies suggest that by 2018, all Vaquita species will be extinct.

1.2eHawaiian Monk Seal

The seals, which are found mostly around the island’s northwest of Hawaii, are threatened not only by human activity but also by large Marine creatures such as tiger sharks and Galapagos sharks. Hawaiian monk seals are often caught in fishing nets and debris and killed. Only about 1,100 seals are struggling to survive.

2. The causes of endangered Marine life

Animals can become endangered for a number of different reasons, but many experts believe that loss of habitat is frequently the main cause.Pollution can also damage a population, as can overhunting and overfishing. In other words, the activities of human beings are the biggest problems. Predation and the introduction of new animals, disease and food chain disruption also contribute, however, and it is common for more than one believe that loss of habitat is frequently the main cause.Pollution can also damage a population, Predation and the introduction of new animals, disease and food chain disruption also contribute, however, and it is common for more than one issue to put creatures at risk.

2a.Environmental pollution -Marine trash

Marine trash is one of the things that many Marine life deplore. The ocean has become a dumping ground for all kinds of garbage from all over the world. According to statistics, more than 6.4 million tons of garbage enters the ocean every year, which is really terrible to think about. Moreover, once the garbage enters the ocean and is used by Marine life, it will cause injuries to Marine life and even death.Plastic waste can clog the stomachs and digestive systems of Marine animals or entrench their bodies. Thousands of seabirds, turtles and other animals suffer horrific deaths from plastic every year, according to the United Nations environment program. About 60 percent of seabirds have eaten plastic debris at some point, and that number will increase to 99 percent by 2050.

2b. Illegal hunting

Many of the turtles and fish caught by illegal hunters are among the world’s most endangered species, according to the African society for the protection of animals. Oceanographers say conservation efforts are under way around the world, but a significant number of hunters still make money by killing them. Illegal hunters are the biggest predators of rare species. Over such a large area, and over a long period of time, oceanographers say shark populations are plummeting, and because of that, the shark population has declined dramatically — 80 % in 50 years and illegal hunters say sharks are now hard to catch.

2c.Commercial hunting

The ocean is the largest natural resource in the world. According to a study by international environmentalists, the number of many rare marine creatures in the ocean is decreasing dramatically, which is mainly caused by people hunting them. Commercial hunting is not only reducing the number of rare marine organisms, but also seriously affecting the marine ecological environment. If the situation is not contained, it may turn into a disaster. In order to obtain food, medicine and raw materials, human beings catch a large number of marine organisms, among which overfishing of marine fish is a prominent problem nowadays. Many marine scientists worry that today’s overfishing is pushing many species to the brink of extinction. The national marine fisheries service estimates that 45 % of the major fish species released to the market have been overfished.

2d.Habitat destruction

Typhoons, storm surges, tsunamis and so on can cause large-scale damage to the living environment and life of Marine plants and animals. Although it is usually only temporary, the destruction caused by human activities to them is more lasting and serious

The development of agriculture and industry. Pollution and waste from farms, cities and factories can wreak havoc on coral reefs, fish and seaweed.

3. Consequences

3a.Killing Marine life can lead to uneven distribution of species and damage the biological chain

The ocean is the largest natural resource in the world. Human beings catch a large number of Marine organisms for food, medicine, and raw materials. Among them, overfishing of Marine fish is a serious problem nowadays. Many Marine scientists worry that today’s overfishing is pushing many species to the brink of extinction. The national Marine fisheries service estimates that 45 %of the major fish species released to the market have been overfished. Some of these overfished species have been reduced to 10 % of their original population. With all the adults fish out, the remaining fish are mainly juveniles, most of which have not yet developed into reproducible adults. Also, fishermen have to sail long distances, spend many hours, and work hard to get what they want. After a few years, the catch of this kind of fish was out of proportion to the economic investment and people’s efforts. Finally, the fishing of this kind of fish was abandoned. Now the large fish have shown huge of decline, small fish increased significantly. In addition, when a species begins to decline significantly, all life in the chain is affected or changed, such as the sharp decline in the number of whales caused by commercial whaling in Antarctica, resulting in an increase in the number of animals that feed on Antarctic krill.

3b. The killing of Marine life has led to a sharp decline in the number of many rare species

Life in the ocean is overused. Commercial whalers killed about half a million whales between 1940 and 1986. In 1986, the international whaling commission called for an end to all commercial whaling, banned by Japan, Norway and the former Soviet union. Although whaling was eventually halted in 1988, and Antarctic waters were designated a cetacean sanctuary by the international whaling commission in 1994, Japan refused to agree to the agreement and continued to hunt whales. Today, Japan still hunts whales to make meat for people and pets. Norway kills 500 to 900 minke whales a year in the north Atlantic. The toothless manatee was extinct in 1768, only 27 years after it was discovered, and before anyone knew more about it, greedy traders wiped it off the face of the earth forever. Like other fish at the top of the food chain, sharks have long been predators and are now being hunted in large Numbers. Shark fins benefit hunters far more than any other part of the shark’s body, so hunters cut off their fins and throw the rest into the sea. The sharks don’t die immediately, but they can suffocate and die when they lose their ability to swim, or be eaten by other sharks. Some conservation groups have urged the public not to eat shark fins, not least because of the cruelty of the hunt, which has led to a sharp decline in shark populations — 80 percent in 50 years. Because sharks reach maturity later and have fewer offspring, it is difficult to recover from a population decline. Many scholars believe that sharks will be the first species to go extinct. Likewise, many Marine invertebrates are overharvested, such as beautiful corals, which are harvested in large quantities for ornamental and commercial use.

4. What should we do to protect Endangered Sea Animals

4.1Know where your seafood is coming from

People love seafood so much that they spend a lot of money on it. Take the United States. According to the national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA), they consumed 4.833 billion pounds of seafood in 2009, which means about 15.8 pounds of fish and shellfish per person. This is because people do not know how or where the seafood they eat is caught. So people need to try and buy from sustainable fisheries. Dr. Gruber once explained, ”this is the most important thing that people can do”, the power of people is powerful. When buying seafood, you need to know that it is harvested sustainably and harmlessly. The most important thing is to know which fish are endangered and refuse to buy them.,avoid shark fin and other endangered Marine animals. for example, has led to a staggering 97% historic decline in Pacific bluefin tuna populations. Experts warn that if the trend continues, the species could become extinct.

4.1Ues less plastic

As the world’s population continues to grow and demand continues to rise, the destruction of plastic waste will only accelerate, and because the material does not degrade easily, it cannot be eliminated from the environment. After a large amount of plastic waste into the ocean, it is difficult to decompose in the seawater and is easy to be eaten as food, resulting in indigestion of Marine animals and death. We should use as little plastic as possible and reuse and recycle when necessary. Although it made our life not handy, it does help a lot. Be sure not to litter, especially plastic, to avoid them going down the drain and ending up in the sea.

4.2Low-carbon life

The oceans have long absorbed carbon dioxide and slowed climate change. But as human carbon dioxide emissions continue to rise, the oceans absorb too much of it, making it increasingly acidic. This will not only affect the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide but will also have a serious impact on marine ecosystems. A low-carbon lifestyle will not only help improve global warming, but it will also slow the rate of ocean acidification. Can try afforestation, even so, but the downside is that it needs time is longer, and manpower investment is very big, but afforestation this way is the most effective way, local ball trees increased to a certain number, the carbon dioxide will reduce the large area, so the afforestation is the most effective, and will not have any negative impact

Conclusion

Marine life was overused, and whalers killed about half a million whales between 1940 and 1986. In 1986, the international whaling commission proposed a ban on all commercial whaling. Japan refused to accept the agreement to continue whaling, although the killing was finally stopped in 1988 and Antarctic waters were designated as a cetacean sanctuary in 1994. Today, Japan continues to hunt whales, dolphins and other animals to make meat for human consumption. Norway’s annual killing of 500 to 900 minke whales in the north Atlantic led to their extinction in 1768, and before it was known more, greedy traders wiped it off the face of the earth forever, just 27 years after its discovery. Like other fish at the top of the food chain, sharks have long been predators and are now being decimated. Shark fins have long been a delicacy, with hunters cutting them off for business and throwing the rest of their bodies into the sea. Sharks do not die immediately, they suffocate or are eaten by other sharks because they lose the ability to swim. Some conservation groups have advised people not to eat shark fins, especially because brutal hunting has led to a sharp decline in shark populations — 80 percent in 50 years. Because sharks mature later and have fewer offspring, it is difficult to recover from the decline. Many scholars believe that sharks will be the first species to go extinct. Likewise, many Marine invertebrates are overfished, such as beautiful corals, which are fished in large Numbers for ornamental and commercial use.