A government report in New Zealand revealed that three out of every four fish have microplastics, while significant numbers of native species and indigenous birds are on the verge of extinction.
On Thursday (October 13), the ministry of environment released a report outlining the state of threatened species.
According to the report, nearly 90 per cent of indigenous seabirds, 82 per cent of indigenous shorebirds, and 22 per cent of marine mammal species were categorised as facing threatened extinction or at risk of becoming extinct.
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Seabirds are under threat as nearly 1,400 were killed last year by big fish and also because of the ocean becoming more acidic.
The report revealed that the ocean’s acidification rose 8.6 per cent in 22 years, with water temperatures rising, and marine heat waves becoming more severe and frequent.
The conversation group Forest and Crisis described the situation as a ‘crisis,’ reported The Guardian.
The group in its statement said, “The true scale of the crisis affecting the oceans could be much worse because the extinction risks facing most marine mammals, fish, and invertebrates remains unknown, due to lack of research.”
The Green party representative, Eugenie Sage, blamed the government for the deteriorating marine health. Sage said that it was the government’s neglect that landed the marine life in the situation.
(With inputs from agencies)
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