Scientists Discover Extinction Risk for 20 to 25 Percent of Marine Species

It turns out that our world's seas are quickly becoming ecosystems where species are at risk for extinction. Scientists have discovered that 20 to 25 percent of species in our oceans are now threatened with extinction.

In order to better understand the state of species in our world's oceans, the researchers used the most comprehensive conservation data available for marine and non-marine organisms. They then checked the species against a list of criteria published by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

"Until now, there has been a general assumption that, despite pressure on marine environments like pollution and overfishing, marine species are unlikely to be threatened with extinction," said Thomas Webb, one of the researchers, in a news release. "We have shown that, on the face of it, there are indeed far fewer marine species of conservation concern; but much of this can be explained by the fact the conservation status of fewer marine species has been formally assessed."

The findings reveal the importance of marine conservation. Not only that, but it shows that it's crucial to assess species within the ocean to make sure that they're not at risk.

"When we concentrate on those groups of animals and plants which are best known, and where estimates of extinction risk are likely to be the most reliable, the difference between marine and non-marine species disappears," said Webb. "Instead, in these groups around one in every four or five species is estimated to be at a heightened risk of extinction, whether they live on land or in the sea. We ought to be more concerned about marine species."

The findings are published in the journal Current Biology.

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