The journal Current Biology warns that the world's oceans will soon be completely unrecognizable due to the fact that human activities can lead to the extinction of marine life.
In fact, only 13 percent of the world's oceans have kept marine ecosystems intact, while the remainder has been degraded by human predation.
Most of the environmentally healthy ocean waters are located outside of state protected areas. As a result, these spaces are defenseless against their exploitation, which necessitates the early conclusion of international treaties on the protection of the oceans, according to the Guardian. The good news is that this year the United Nations has taken the lead in the comprehensive protection of the high seas.
“We were amazed at how few sea creatures remained in the wild,” lead author Kendall Jones told the Guardian. "The ocean is limitless, it covers more than 70 percent of the surface of our planet, and yet humanity has managed to significantly affect almost this entire colossal ecosystem."
Many factors are detrimental to the ocean.
Climate change leads to an increase in the average temperature of the world ocean, changes in the migratory behavior of various fish species, affects the reproduction of animals, leads to the death of coral reefs and the release of dangerous pathogens.
In addition, the world's oceans absorb much of the excess carbon dioxide from human activities, which leads to increased acidity and makes ocean waters unfavorable for marine life.
The global fishing industry overexploits fish resources and leads to the death of various non-fishery species such as dolphins, sharks and whales.
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The authors of the report believe that countries should end subsidizing fisheries on the high seas, which is spent annually on about $ 4 billion, to allow marine life to thrive in these waters.
Among other things, the report calls on countries to protect the Arctic, the waters of which are becoming more accessible every year for fishing vessels. Currently, work is underway to implement the proposal to create the world's largest marine reserves in the Arctic.
Industrial wastes, wastewater from agriculture, factories and ships enter seawater, polluting it with harmful chemicals, and plastic waste accumulates in huge heaps, turning large swathes of the ocean into dangerous obstacle courses, the report says.
In this direction, the UN recommends that countries expand protected areas and reduce emissions of plastic and other waste into rivers and seas.
In recent years, the fight against plastic pollution has united environmentalists, with more than 60 countries agreeing to cut plastics production.
It will probably be difficult to stop the process of degradation of the world ocean and restore it from the consequences of the damage caused to it.
In addition to international treaties, fisheries management and emission reductions, countries must mitigate climate change that may pose the greatest risk in the long term.
If this is not done, the planet, according to the authors of the report, will face a catastrophe.
Sergey "Avarron" Afanasiev