The marine ecosystem faces an unprecedented crisis as shark and ray populations have plummeted by more than half over the past five decades, according to a global study published in Science. The research presents the stark reality of systematic depletion while offering practical solutions for species recovery. The paper offers a comprehensive analysis revealing that overfishing has decimated populations of chondrichthyan fishes—sharks, rays, and chimaeras—by over 50% since 1970. “In addition to intentional targeting and bycatch, the threat to sharks is compounded by habitat degradation, climate change, and pollution. The result is that over one-third of chondrichthyans now face the … Continue reading Shark And Ray Populations Plunge 50% Since 1970: Is Overfishing Pushing Marine Ecosystems to Collapse?