With nearly one-third of sea fisheries collapsed and the rate of decline accelerating it is only a matter of time before we begin to see the knock on effects on the ocean ecosystem, unless we take drastic action NOW.

According to a major scientific study we may be in the last century for wild seafood. This will have major implications for the rest of the seas biodiversity. Lissa Goodwin, Marine Connection Fisheries & Policy Officer comments:

“You cannot effectively remove an entire and very important level in the food web and not expect to see effects to other species. If we cause fish stocks to collapse we also threaten the very survival of our charismatic megafauna - the whales and dolphins.”

Unless we fundamentally change the way we manage the seas the collapse of the ocean ecosystem is a very real possibility which will occur in the next 50 years. We urgently need a network of marine protected areas, including Highly Protected Marine Reserves – areas which are no-take zones to industry.

“These areas allow habitat and species recovery, which studies show, repopulate the sea in the surrounding area.”

“We must realise that whilst the ocean is a dynamic environment the effects we have on it through over-fishing, pollution and habitat destruction have a cumulative impact – and we are now beginning to see the result of that impact.”

“We are already losing hundreds of dolphins and porpoises to net entanglement in fisheries – how many more must we lose through depleting prey populations before we take action?”

The Government have already been criticised for letting the timetable for producing a marine bill slip and now Marine Connection believe that the draft marine bill, promised last year will not be in the Queen's Speech next Wednesday.

The results of this study are clear, we need to protect biodiversity and we need to protect it NOW, otherwise we may be seeing the last of the ocean wilderness.