In the latest assessment of global marine species, nearly 10% were found to be at risk of extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The most recent High Seas Treaty establishes marine protected areas in high seas which will help achieve the global goal of protecting 30% of the world's oceans.

Healthy marine species like whales, sea turtles, coral, and salmon are important for maintaining balanced and thriving ocean ecosystems, and so, work must be put in place to protect these marine species populations from decline and extinction, by understanding their health and environment, and evaluate and monitor human activities that might affect them to ensure future generations may enjoy them.

 Adverse Impact of Climate Change On Marine Wildlife

With an ever increasing global warming and other natural environmental catastrophies due to climate change, the oceans are facing numerous threats in the contemporary era with thousands of marine life dying and others going extinct

To a great degree, this is a sure proof that most of the contributing factors are anthropogenic activities owing to the effects of plastic pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, etc, causing Marine wildlife to have remarkably suffered a huge loss with regards to drastic changes in their ecosystem. 

For instance in Nigeria, the Department of Fisheries have recorded more than 800 economically important species being at the brink of extinction. And so, it has become imperative to find innovative solutions, using practical scientific approach to mitigate the situation.

 Effects of Carbon Emission On Wildlife Preservation

Greenhouse gases act like a giant blanket around the Earth. These gasses trap heat and increases the temperature of the ocean, thereby altering the water chemistry.

Ocean acidification is a consequence of increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a greenhouse gas driving climate change. The ocean absorbs around one third of all human induced CO2, causing a change in seawater chemistry called ocean acidification. It presents a serious threat to marine life, ecosystem health and people whose livelihoods depend on the ocean.

A study published in the journal Nature Climate Change found that if greenhouse gases continue to be emitted at their current rate, nearly 90 percent of all marine species could face extinction by the end of this century. 

While it is important to develop adaptive solutions, it is also crucial to address the root of the problem - unabated CO2 emissions, which is what Green Carbon (a youth-led organization that cleans the air by collecting carbon directly from ships, and converting it into fertilizer) is also looking to address.

 Possible Solutions to Marine Extinction

1) Inculcate the attitude of recycling your plastics

2) Regularly participate in beach clean up

3) Support organizations fighting climate change

(Example: Green Carbon; LAGOS PLASTIC REVOLUTION).

4) Think Global, Act Local.