Global marine population halved since 1970

Populations of marine wildlife have plummeted by half over the past 40 years, with some species suffering even greater losses due to habitat loss, overfishing, rising sea temperatures and worsening ocean acidity
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ALL MARINE SPECIES*
Index value (1970 = 1) 0 1 2 
1970 1980 1990 2000 2012
Confidence limits
49% decline between 1970 and 2012
*Based on trends in 5,829 populations of 1,234 species

SCOMBRIDAE†
0 1 2
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Fish critical to human food such as mackerel, tuna and bonito. 74% decline
between 1970 and 2010
†Based on trends in 58 populations of 17 species
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HABITATS AND POPULATIONS

CORAL REEFS 50% decrease over last 30 years

SEA CUCUMBERS 98% decline in Galapagos between 1993 and 2004

SEAGRASS 30% decline over last century

SHARKS & RAYS 25% of sharks, rays and skates threatened with local extinction

MANGROVES 20% loss between 1980 and 2005

MARINE TURTLES 4 of 7 sub-populations of leatherbacks critically endangered
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Pictures: AP, Getty Images, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, Anders Poulsen, Deep Blue

Source: Living Blue Planet Report by World Wildlife Fund

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