Three out of every four fish in New Zealand have large amounts of microplastics in them, according to a recent government assessment, and many native species and native birds like seabirds are in danger of going extinct.
The Ministry of Environment published a report on vulnerable species on Thursday (October 13).
Nearly 90% of native seabirds, 82% of native shorebirds, and 22% of native marine mammal species were classified as facing threatened extinction or at risk of going extinct, according to the report.
Nearly 1,400 seabirds were killed last year by big fish and the ocean becoming more acidic
In addition to rising water temperatures and more severe and frequent marine heat waves, the report showed that the ocean’s acidification increased by 8.6% over a period of 22 years.
The situation was referred to as a “crisis” by the conversational group Forest and Crisis.
According to the group’s statement, “The true size of the crisis hitting the oceans might be far worse because the dangers of extinction confronting the majority of marine mammals, fish, and invertebrates remain unknown, due to a lack of research.”
Eugenie Sage, a member of the Green party, said that the government was to blame for the declining condition of the oceans. Sage claimed that the government’s negligence caused marine life to end up in this predicament.