Overfishing and habitat degradation found to cause marine life decline in South Atlantic

New Delhi, May 27 (PTI) Overfishing and habitat degradation have contributed to a significant decline in the marine ecosystems of the South Atlantic Ocean, according to a new research which shed light on the magnitude of human impact on these once thriving marine areas.

The research is based on an archaeological analysis of fish remains from several sites in Brazil.

After comparing the archaeological remains of fish species from the past with the present-day fish populations, the results showed a significant decrease in many of the species, particularly sharks and rays, possibly linked to the escalating human impacts, such as overfishing and habitat degradation in recent decades, according to the study led by Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB), Spain, in collaboration with universities in Germany and Brazil.