Ocean Fish Depletion by 2048?
Posted on November 6, 2006
NBC News reports that a shocking study published in Science found that ocean life and seafood could be depleted by as early as 2048. The scientific data also indicates that marine biodiversity has already crashed by as much as 29% since 1960.
The researchers define collapse as catches having decline 90% from the maximum catch. They say all species will be in collapse by 2048.
Boris Worm, lead author of the study, said in a statement, "Whether we looked at tide pools or studies over the entire world's ocean, we saw the same picture emerging. In losing species we lose the productivity and stability of entire ecosystems. I was shocked and disturbed by how consistent these trends are -- beyond anything we suspected."
Boris Worm, the lead author on the study, told Reuters that most of the destruction to ocean life is from over-fishing and habitat destruction. It was not a completely bleak outlook. The study did say that techniques like marine-life reserves and no-fishing zones could be helpful. Some types of aquaculture involving vegetarian fish could also be helpful. They better be implemented quickly because a planet without fish or very scarce in ocean-life is not going to be pleasant and will probably have serious repercussions for the land dwelling life forms on Earth.