Nearly a tenth of underwater plants and animals assessed so far are threatened with extinction.The marine species facing extinction may be much higher than current data shows, says the head of the IUCN Red List.The effects of human activity from climate change to pollution are"devastating" marine life, with nearly a tenth of underwater plants and animals assessed so far threatened with extinction, the latest Red List of Threatened Species showed last week.
More than 1 550 of some 17 903 marine plants and animals assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature are at risk of extinction, according to the latest list which acts as a barometer of biodiversity and is published several times a year."It shows that we are having quite a devastating impact on marine species," Craig Hilton-Taylor, head of the IUCN Red List, told Reuters.
Hilton-Taylor said the portion of marine species facing extinction was likely much higher than current data shows because those analysed so far have tended to be widespread fish species, not currently under threat. Among the threats they face are the loss of their main food source, seagrass, due to oil and gas exploration and production in the case of Mozambique and pollution from nickel mining in the Pacific.
Pollution, yes. Climate Change? Hard no. We're not buying that propaganda. Give it up