What are the Causes of Marine Life Disappearance?

Carbon Dioxide

• Carbon dioxide is the main byproduct of burning fossil fuels. The ocean naturally absorbs carbon dioxide. More carbon dioxide in the ocean means less oxygen for the fish. However, the real danger comes from adding too much CO2 to the water. The more carbon dioxide is added to the water, the more acidic the water becomes. This harms shellfish by preventing their shells from forming and hurts other marine species as well.

Illegal/Overfishing

• The fishing industry has boomed due to the increase in demand for seafood. However, many industries have overfished species necessary for a healthy marine environment. Sharks have been overfished due to the increase for their meat, especially their fins. Unfortunately, the decline in the number of sharks as the top predator in the ocean has allowed other species to flourish. Skates and stingrays decimate the shellfish population. The absence of sharks also allows fish to multiply to high numbers, which leads to food shortage and disease, eventually killing them.

Pollution

• Pollution is a major contributor to the disappearance of marine life because it comes from everywhere. Runoff from highways, sewers and farms finds its way into the ocean, causing harm to the fish. Plastic from ships, beaches and landfill can smother marine life. Dredging is also a source of pollution. Dredging machinery stirs up sediment, clouding up the water and preventing sunlight from reaching the plants and fish. Stirred up sediment can also stick to fish gills, preventing them from breathing.

Global Warming

• Global warming is causing the oceans to heat up. Higher temperatures have devastating effects on ocean habitats, mainly coral reefs. When the ocean heats up, coral releases algae that are essential for food production. While coral reefs may recover from short warming spans, it is difficult to impossible for them to recover from longer increases in temperature. In 1998, over 16 percent of the world's coral reefs died due to unusually high temperatures. Reef death can decrease fish numbers by half.