Climate change and overfishing may lead to the disappearance of marine life.
Photo: EFEAustralian experts have warned that ocean ecosystems are in grave danger, because they are very close to suffering a mass extinction of marine species.
According to the report published in the journal Science, climate change, overfishing and other human actions can cause the complete disappearance of marine life. The study, conducted by specialists from Macquarie University in Sydney, he concludes that what is to happen to the marine fauna is the result of human behavior and the effects of climate change.
The research was based on data obtained from a review of 100 000 collections around the world, composed of marine fossils that lived about 500 million years.
For its part, the study 'The exploration of marine biodiversity', prepared by the BBVA Foundation, states that "it would take 250 to 1,000 years to complete the inventory of marine species, with the risk that by then many of them will have been lost forever. "
The oceans, covering an area of 361 million square kilometers and an average depth of 3,730 feet, covers 71% of the planet's surface
According to research, coordinated by Professor of the Higher Council for Scientific Research? CSIC - Carlos Duarte and that has involved 12 leading international researchers, each year 635 thousand describes new marine species and, at present, there are the order of 230000-250000 described species of marine organisms, which indicates that marine biodiversity represents 15% of global biodiversity described (about 1.6 million species).
The General Assembly of the United Nations declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity in order to attract international attention to the problem of the continued loss of biodiversity.
The destruction of natural habitats, fragmentation of forests and water pollution, coupled with the effects of climate change are among the main causes of the rapid pace of global biodiversity loss.
During this year, is intended to highlight the importance of biodiversity to human life, reflect on our achievements in the conservation of biodiversity and encourage us to redouble our efforts to reduce significantly the rate of biodiversity loss.
For Juan Manuel Diaz, scientific director of the MarViva, the main threats to marine biodiversity are overharvesting of living marine resources (both by overfishing and by the collateral damage that violate the nets sweep the seabed ), water pollution and acidification of the sea because of climate change.
As we celebrate the National Day of Biodiversity, an appeal to the Colombian is aware that the oceans are not inexhaustible source of resources that they used to proclaim our parents and teachers at school and act responsibly, while consuming only products that are in danger of extinction, obtained through responsible practices and require our leaders to adopt measures to monitor and control illegal fishing and to mitigate and prevent water pollution.
In Colombia, efforts to conserve the oceans and marine ecosystems has few allies, among which include the Malpelo Foundation, the Invemar, Agenda del Mar, Conservation International, WWF and MarViva.
In Colombia, MarViva promotes conservation and sustainable use of resources, goods and services marine coastal processes through support for inter-agency management, mangrove management plans and monitoring fishing in the northern Chocó Pacific.
This is the opportunity to think about the objectives proposed by the United Nations, in favor of biodiversity:
Improve public awareness of the importance of safeguarding biodiversity and the threats to biodiversity, increase awareness of the achievements to save biodiversity, encouraging people, organizations and governments to take immediate measures necessary to halt the loss of biodiversity, promote innovative solutions to reduce threats to biodiversity and to initiate dialogue among stakeholders on measures to be taken in the period after 2010.
Thanks to ElEspectador
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