A new analysis reveals that overfishing has caused populations of chondrichthyan fishes -- sharks, rays, and chimaeras -- to decline by more than 50 per cent since 1970.
To determine the consequences, a team of researchers developed an aquatic Red List Index which shows that the risk of extinction for chondrichthyan has increased by 19 per cent. The study also highlights that the overfishing of the largest species in nearshore and pelagic habitats could eliminate up to 22 per cent of ecological functions. Chondrichthyans are an ancient and ecologically diverse group of over 1,199 fishes that are increasingly threatened by human activities.
These widespread documented declines are expected to have significant consequences on other species and aquatic ecosystems. "This analysis points to solutions" said Professor Colin Simpfendorfer, James Cook University, Australia."Nations can reduce the extinction risk by lowering fishing pressure to sustainable levels, strengthening fisheries governance, and eliminating harmful subsidies.
The Red List Index shows trends in overall extinction risk for species, and is used by governments to track their progress towards targets for reducing biodiversity loss. Up to now, the RLI is available for five taxonomic groups only : birds, mammals, amphibians, cycads and warm-water reef-forming corals. The RLI can be disaggregated in various ways: thematic RLIs show trends for subsets of species of particular policy relevance.
Extinction Nature New Species Ocean Policy Environmental Policies Land Management Resource Shortage
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