Latest Living Blue Planet Report sounds alarm bells for the world’s oceans

September 21, 2015 Dramatic drop in biodiversity The biodiversity of the oceans is decreasing. On average, the populations of marine animals, seabirds, reptiles and fishes have been halved in the short span of 40 years. This is the conclusion contained in the latest Living Blue Planet Report, issued by the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature). Economically important fish stocks such as mackerel, tuna and bonito fell by as much as 74 percent. Today, every fourth shark, ray or skate species is under threat of extinction, due mainly to global overfishing. Particularly affected by this decline in fish stocks are the emerging and developing countries. For some three billion people, fish is the main source of protein. Worldwide, it is one of the most intensively traded goods, with an annual trade volume of 144 billion US dollars. "Overfishing affects not only the balance of life in the oceans, but also in coastal communities, where social and economic structures often depend directly on fish. A collapse of marine ecosystems perpetuates the global fight against poverty and hunger, and causes an economic downturn," WWF fisheries expert Karoline Schacht warned in German. According to the WWF, human exploitation is the main cause of the collapse of marine biodiversity, alongside the destruction of important habitats such as coral reefs, sea grass beds and mangrove forests.