A four-year study of 7,800 marine species around the world’s ecosystems has concluded that the long-term trend is clear and predictable.
By 2048, to be exact, catches of all the presently fished seafoods will have declined on average by more than 90% since 1950.
The study, by an international group of ecologists and economists, says the loss of biodiversity impairs the ability of oceans to feed the world’s growing human population — expected to rise by 50 per cent to nine billion in 2050.
Over-fishing also sabotages the stability of marine environments, profoundly reducing the ocean’s ability to produce seafood, resist diseases, filter pollutants and rebound from stresses such as climate change.
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