DISASTER IN THE MED SEA: 'State of siege' as fish and seals mysteriously die, says study
HOARDS of fish and seals have mysteriously died in the Mediterranean sea, according to a study.
Seals and sea lions have mysteriously died in the Mediterranean sea, according to a study
The discovery was made by ICM-CSIC researcher Chiara Piroddi and published in the Journal Scientific Report.
It found that 34 per cent of fish and 41 per cent of seals and sea lions have gone missing in the sea since 1950.
But it has caused grave concern for scientists who fear the Mediterranean sea is “in a state of siege” because of intense pressure from both humans and environmental factors.
Sea life has been impacted by human activity - like fishing
Researchers used a model created by the Science Institute of the sea in Barcelona to mimic the sea’s conditions.
They were then able to see the damaging effects humans have had on sea life spanning six decades.
One of the most detrimental problems was that different species have been affected by changes to access to the food chain.
Scientists found that 41 per cent of seals and sea lions have gone missing in the sea since 1950
The research team simulated how different groups or species of the marine ecosystem have been affected by changes in primary productivity (growth of the phytoplankton biomass, which is the basis of the food chain) in combination with fisheries.
Scientists also analysed annual data on biomass and fishing of various species of marine organisms from 2005 to 2011 with data from fishing catches and scientific articles.
But while larger fish have died out, biologists found that smaller organisms placed in low trophic levels of the food chain, such as invertebrates, have increased their biomass by 23 per cent.