Fish Populations Threatened

Experts have warned of the dangers of overfishing and oceanic pollution for decades, and new reports confirm that many species are currently facing endangerment or extinction. Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported 48 populations considered overfished in its 2010 “Status of Stocks” report, and the World Wildlife Fund also recently noted that 75 percent of European fisheries are overfished, with only nine percent of European fish stocks considered sustainable by 2022. Among the most threatened are tuna, with five out of eight species “at risk of extinction,” as well as shellfish, whose populations are predicted to decline considerably in the next 10 to 50 years. In addition to overfishing, warming water and oceanic acidification continue to be major contributors to their endangerment.