The greatest 10 water animals likely to go extinct by 2025

The greatest 10 water animals likely to go extinct by 2025

It is one of the vast unknowns of this planet with oceans fed by life that stirs the sense of awe and mystery. And though on the surface all is glossy, there lies beneath the water a half-hidden crisis. Human activity is forcing thousands of marine creatures right to the edge at an incomparable pace. The term, marine animals in danger of extinction is no longer a hypothetical term but, it is a sad absolute reality. By learning of the predicament these animals are facing, we, too, can become a part of the solution. The article discusses the top 10 at-risk ocean species that face the risk of extinctions by the year 2025 and reasons behind this as well as the conservation activities that are in operation to save these species.

1. The Vaquita

The vaquita tops one of the lists of the critically endangered species in the marine waters. This little porpoise is limited to the Mexican Gulf of California, where it suffers the effects of illicit gillnet fishing of the also-endangered totoaba fish. The vaquita porpoise has a population of maybe under 10 humans making it very close to extinction. Intensive conservation management, such as gillnet prohibitions and protection patrols is a time race to save the smallest cetacean before it goes extinct.

2. Northern Atlantic Right Whale

A name that has its origins in tragedy, these whales were at one time the right whale to hunt. The north Atlantic right whale is one of the large whales which are highly endangered. Of the estimated 350 remaining they continue to be threatened by vessel strike and fishing gear entanglement. They do not reproduce fast, which means that every loss serves as a great blow to the recovery process; hence, their marine wildlife protection is one of the priorities.

3. Hawksbill Turtle

With a brightly patterned shell, the hawksbill sea turtle has long been chased near extinction in pursuit of tortoiseshell. Even though the international trade is prohibited nowadays, there is still the issue of illegal poaching. Vast losses are also dealt to them by habitat loss of marine creatures, as their food source in the form of corals is denuded and coastal development construction comes to eat up their nesting shores.

4. European Eel

This secretive catadromous fish goes through a fantastic process in traversing the Sargasso Sea to rivers in Europe. Nonetheless, the number of the European eel has decreased more than 90 percent since the 1980s. The reasons are numerous: overfishing (both of glass eels and adults), ocean pollution, obstacles such as dams that disrupt their migration, and alteration of ocean currents caused by changes in climate.

5. Scalloped Hammerhead Shark

Immediately recognizable, the scalloped hammerhead shark is critically endangered because of the popularity of its fins. They are the main victims of the International shark fin industry. Also, they are highly exposed to fishing bycatch, since they do get entangled in fishing nets targeted to other fishes. They are slow to grow and have a low productivity in raising young ones, and therefore population recovery is a monumental task.

6. Southern bluefin tuna

The southern bluefin tuna is one of the biggest powerhouses of the ocean, and one of the most sought after in the sushi markets of the world, but they have been over fished heavily. Illegal fishing is still a problem that prevents its recovery despite international management actions on the same. Their worth makes them highly subject to intense fishing disaster, which makes them a clear example of what unsustainable demand can do to threatened marine species.

7. Blue Whale

It is almost unimaginable that what is the biggest animal to ever exist on earth is in danger. Commercial whaling in the 20th century wiped out the blue whale population. Although offered protection since 1966, even they are not safe: ocean noise pollution by shipping and seismic survey activities interfere with communication, and both ship strikes and the consequences of climate change on marine life threaten their food source of krill.

8. Ridley Sea Turtle

Kemp s ridley sea turtle is the most endangered species of sea turtles They were negatively affected mostly by gathering of their eggs, incidental capture in shrimp trawls, and loss of nesting grounds. Intensive conservation measures, such as protection of nesting beaches and Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in fishing have put them back onto the edge of extinction, but they are still critically endangered.

9. Hawaiian Monk Seal

The Hawaiian monk seal exists both as one of the most threatened marine mammals, and as the only one of Hawaii-endemic animals. Their population of approximately one thousand five hundred faces the threat of food shortages, marine trappings, fishing, and prey. Also at stake is access to haul-out and birthing beaches, which are disappearing with the rising sea level.

10. Coral Reefs

Although not an animal, in no single list can it be omitted to talk of coral reefs. These rich endangered marine ecosystems contain 25 percent of all life in the oceans. Climate change is causing them to starve and collapse as a result of the catastrophic bleaching and die-offs of ocean acidification and rising water temperatures. The destruction of coral reefs would result in the fall of a whole ecosystem endangering many species including those listed above.

Guardians of the Blue: Our Pact with the Ocean What is happening now is a story that is being written about the survival of these amazing, endangered marine species and it is up to our unity of choices on what comes next. By making both large and small steps like selecting sustainable foods at our dinner table, investing in reusable products in order to reduce plastic consumption, donating to conservation organizations, traveling optimally, and lobbying to bring about change and enforce larger policies, we have the power to change their fate. Our rich, vivid, stepthing world hinges upon our current activity, and will prosper as long as future generations can take enable it.