Thursday December 12, 2024
Geographical —
New analysis has revealed populations of chondrichthyan fishes – sharks, rays and chimaeras (a small group of mainly deepwater species) – have declined by more than 50 per cent since 1970 due to overfishing, with the risk of extinction to all three species increasing by 19 per cent.
More than 1,199 fishes make up the ancient and ecologically group of chondrichthyans, but overexploitation by fisheries along with incidental capture (bycatch) has led to dwindling populations.
Overfishing is a prevalent issue worldwide, with a recent UN analysis finding that almost 38 per cent of fish stocks have been fished beyond sustainable limits across the world – causing a loss of biodiversity as well as serious repercussions for small coastal communities reliant on fishing.
Habitat degradation, climate change and pollution have also contributed to the drop in these aquatic species’ numbers. It is expected that such vast declines will have sizeable impacts on other species and aquatic ecosystems.