World’s Marine Life Facing Mass Extinction? New Study Blames Human Activities And Industrialization

By Staff Reporter | Jan 17, 2015 11:54 AM EST

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The world's marine life is facing mass extinction as the new study published in Science Journal revealed. According to the research, human activities and the continuing industrialization are to blame for the substantial degree of damage done to the oceans all around the globe.

The world has been blessed with a bountiful marine life that every generation should enjoy. However, a new study shows that it might be facing mass extinction if the Industrial Revolution continues. So, is the world's marine life in great danger? Are there ways to stop its extinction?

In the past 5 centuries, scientists have noted 15 ocean species that had gone extinct as a result of human activities, Tech Times revealed. But a new study helmed by University of California-Santa Barbara ecologist Douglas McCauley showed that several marine life species are heading towards its end.

"We may be sitting on a precipice of a major extinction event," McCauley, the author of the study told The New York Times.

Several researchers and scientists have cited the beginning of Industrial Revolution as a significant factor for the mounting extinctions on land. According to Stanford News, desirable species were being hunted to extinction. While human activities such as oil drilling, fish farming and pollution are remarkably exploiting the oceans' natural habitats. And climate change has also its effects.

Though the world's marine life is facing mass extinction, the good news is there is still hope to prevent further damage. McCauley and his colleagues have discovered that there is time to stop the catastrophic exploits of the oceans' ecosystems.  

"We're lucky in many ways," Rutgers University's marine biologist Malin L. Pinsky, who is also coauthor of the new study, stated. "The impacts are accelerating, but they're not so bad we can't reverse them."

The researchers also suggested to limit the industrialization of the ocean to save the world's marine life in facing mass extinction. They also added that carbon emissions should be reduce soon to give the oceans time for recovery.

"If by the end of the century we're not off the business-as-usual curve we are now, I honestly feel there's not much hope for normal ecosystems in the ocean," coauthor Stephen R. Palumbi of Stanford University stated. "But in the meantime, we do have a chance to do what we can. We have a couple decades more than we thought we had, so let's please not waste it."

As the world's marine life is facing the threats for mass extinctions, humans should take responsibility in saving the oceans. There's still time and it shouldn't be wasted. Because if you care, then it is right to do your share and make a difference.

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