Wildlife in the Ocean Is Disappearing
In 2003, a group of scientists finished a 10-year project to count tuna(金枪鱼)and other large fish in the world's ocean. They made a very surprising discovery: These fish are almost gone. Because of too much fishing, almost 90 percent of the worldwide population of large fish—the ones we usually eat—has disappeared. lf we don't act, these animals will totally disappear, and that will affect every animal in the ocean.
The demand for fish is growing. Almost a billion people around the world get their protein(蛋白) mostly from fish. Doctors praise seafood for being low in fat. But what seems like a healthful choice for humans is causing a disaster in our ocean. "People are consuming(消费) too much, "says Lance Morgan, Chief Scientist at the Marine Conservation Biology Institute.
A lash of tuna in restaurants costs more than just one animal's life. When fish like tuna disappear from the ecosystem(生态系统), the ocean 's food chain breaks. Animals such as sharks, which normally eat tuna, die because they find no food. Nets (网) can also catch and kill more others. The bottom net, a huge weighted net that large ships pull across the ocean floor, catches plenty of shellfish that can be eaten. At the same time, it also catches much unwanted wildlife. Even worse, the bottom net hurts the ocean floor and destroys natural places where animals and plants normally live and grow. Fish farmers hope to solve these problems by growing fish. However, farmers must lead their animals other fish—which means killing more animals from the wild.
While the news may be frightening, taking action from now on can prevent harm that hasn't happened yet. World organizations are ordering countries to stop fishing too much. The Monterey Bay Aquarium gives seafood choices to anyone hoping to get health benefits without destroying the environment.
"If you care about wildlife, first spend time thinking about your own values and beliefs, "says Morgan. "Then decide what you're going to eat. "
