Marine Wildlife

As of 2022, the IUCN Red List states over 1,550 of the 17,903 marine species assessed are threatened with extinction.

Vaquitas, hawksbill sea turtles, Kemp's ridley sea turtles, North Atlantic right whales, African penguins, and oceanic whitetip sharks are among the most endangered marine wildlife, classified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. Other endangered marine wildlife include blue whales, hammerhead sharks, leatherback sea turtles, whale sharks, and oceanic manta rays.

Less than 3% of the global ocean is free from human pressures, which is why marine conservation is critical. Marine conservation volunteering is a way to actively contribute to protecting ocean ecosystems by participating in research, habitat restoration, and species monitoring efforts.

Marine wildlife faces numerous threats, many of which are caused by human activities. Some of the biggest dangers include:

• Climate Change: Ocean warming disrupts marine ecosystems, causing species to migrate and coral reefs to bleach. Sea level rise affects coastal habitats like mangroves and salt marshes. Ocean acidification (caused by CO₂ absorption) weakens the shells of marine organisms like corals, molluscs, and plankton.
• Pollution: Millions of marine animals, including turtles, seabirds, and whales, ingest or become entangled in plastic pollution. Toxic oil spills can suffocate marine life, damage ecosystems, and poison food chains. Industrial and agricultural runoff introduces heavy metals, pesticides, and other chemical pollution into the ocean. Noise pollution from ship traffic, oil drilling, and sonar disrupt communication and navigation for whales, dolphins, and other marine life.
• Overfishing & Bycatch: Overfishing depletes fish populations, throwing marine ecosystems out of balance. Bycatch (unintentional capture of non-target species) harms dolphins, sea turtles, and seabirds caught in fishing nets.
• Habitat Destruction: Coastal development destroys important breeding grounds like mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs. Bottom trawling (dragging nets along the seafloor) damages sea beds and disrupts entire ecosystems.
• Invasive Species: Ships and human activities introduce non-native species that compete with native marine life for food and habitat, sometimes leading to extinctions.
• Illegal Wildlife Trade: Marine species like sharks, sea turtles, and corals are poached for food, souvenirs, or traditional medicine, reducing populations and disrupting ecosystems.
• Dead Zones (Oxygen Depletion): Excess nutrients (from fertilizers and sewage) create algal blooms that deplete oxygen levels, suffocating marine life in "dead zones."
• Coral Reef Decline: Coral reefs, which support vast marine biodiversity, are being destroyed by warming waters, pollution, and destructive fishing practices.

Marine conservation efforts are crucial in mitigating these threats, and becoming a marine conservation volunteer allows individuals to actively participate in protecting marine ecosystems and the fascinating marine life that lives within them.

Marine conservation is essential for protecting biodiversity, regulating climate, sustaining fisheries, and supporting coastal economies. Oceans produce most of the Earth's oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, and serve as a vital food source for millions.

Without conservation efforts, overfishing, pollution, and habitat destruction threaten marine and human life. Marine conservation volunteering allows individuals to actively support initiatives that minimise human impact on marine wildlife and their ecosystems.

You can get involved as a marine conservation volunteer, where beach cleanups, marine wildlife monitoring, coral restoration, shark tagging, turtle release and more could be part of your itinerary! Other ways to support marine conservation include advocacy, education, donating and fundraising efforts, reducing your plastic footprint, supporting sustainable seafood, or spreading awareness - even small actions make a difference in protecting our oceans.