Due to their vastness and depth, oceans have been viewed as an unlimited resource and have been overexploited by humans for a long period of time. This has led to a number of species populations declining and becoming endangered due to unsustainable activities by humans. There are various species from several marine species families that are endangered. These include species from families such as whales, dolphins, manatees, seabirds, sea turtles, and sharks, among several others. These species are under threat due to various activities such as habitat destruction, overexploitation, water pollution, boat accidents, and plastic pollution. These animals are crucial for the survival of the oceans and ecosystems and have their own intrinsic value. However, with very few protocols and laws in place for their protection, these creatures are steadily declining.

Few of the endangered marine species include:

Due to their vastness and depth, oceans have been viewed as an unlimited resource and have been overexploited by humans for a long period of time. This has led to a number of species populations declining and becoming endangered due to unsustainable activities by humans. There are various species from several marine species families that are endangered. These include species from families such as whales, dolphins, manatees, seabirds, sea turtles, and sharks, among several others. These species are under threat due to various activities such as habitat destruction, overexploitation, water pollution, boat accidents, and plastic pollution. These animals are crucial for the survival of the oceans and ecosystems and have their own intrinsic value. However, with very few protocols and laws in place for their protection, these creatures are steadily declining.

Few of the endangered marine species include:

1. Vaquita

The Vaquita is the world’s smallest and critically endangered cetacean*, found in shallow, murky waters in Mexico. The vaquita is also the world’s rarest sea mammal and one of the most endangered animals in the world. With less than 30 individuals left in the world, this species is on the brink of extinction. Due to extensive use of gill nets for fishing in the Gulf of California, these animals have been a target of bycatch, causing their species to decline at a very fast rate of 15% every year.

2. The Hawksbill Turtle

The Hawksbill Turtle is found in the oceans of tropical regions of the world, mostly near coral reefs. Their population has been estimated to have declined by 80% over the last century. It is the most endangered sea turtle species in the world, with an estimated global population of 8,000, with only 1,000 nesting females. These turtles have beautiful colored shells, which have unfortunately been one of the major reasons causing their decline. Illegal capturing of these turtles for their meat and shells, which are sold illegally to create jewelry and ornamental products, which even today are sold across the Caribbean, Asia, and Central America. These turtles also feed primarily on coral reefs, which are on a steady decline, adding more pressure to their already declining populations.

3. Blue Whale

Even though the blue whale is the largest living mammal on earth, the species is in danger. These whales play an important role in maintaining a healthy marine environment and are found migrating through both the poles in the oceans around the world. As of 2016, the IUCN has estimated their population to be around 10,000–25,000 individuals around the world. Their populations declined majorly due to hunting, which, although banned in 1966, still continues for their meat and blubber. Threats such as vessel strikes, fishing gear entanglement, habitat degradation, climate change, and ocean noise are further putting pressure on their populations.

4. Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle

Also known as the Atlantic Ridley sea turtle, this turtle species is the rarest and smallest sea turtle found in the world. They are mostly found in the Gulf of Mexico. These turtles have a very unique nesting habit where female turtles arrive on a single beach in large numbers to lay their eggs. Due to development and illegal poaching of turtle eggs, these beaches have become unfavorable as nesting sites, causing their numbers to decline. Marine litter and plastic pollution, entanglement in nets, and bycatch are causing decline in the populations of this species.

5. Hammerhead Shark

The great hammerhead is the largest of the nine identified species of this shark. It can grow up to 20 feet in length and weigh up to 1,000 pounds. Found in temperate and tropical waters worldwide, these sharks are often seen in mass summer migrations. Like other sharks, this species of shark is also being hunted for’shark fin’. Shark fin is consumed as a delicacy in shark fin soup in various Asian countries like China. These sharks are caught alive, their fins chopped, and thrown back into the ocean to die. Commercial fishing and shark culling are also major causes of a few of the species of the hammerhead shark populations declining.

6. Fin Whale

After the Blue Whale, the Fin Whale is the second largest species of whale found in the world. It is found throughout the world’s oceans. Initially, their major threat, like the blue whales, was being hunted for blubber and meat; however, today, the biggest threat comes from vessel strikes, fishing gear entanglement, and ocean noise. The population estimation for these species for the entire North Pacific is between 14,000 and 18,000, and in the southern hemisphere it is around 82,000.

7. Hector’s dolphin

Hector’s dolphin is one of the world’s smallest dolphins and is found only in the coastal waters of New Zealand. Substantial declines in this species have been detected mainly as a result of bycatch in gillnets. According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Hector’s dolphin is about 7,000 mature individuals.

Low population growth rates also contribute to the dolphins’ vulnerability.

8. The Hawaiian monk seal

The Hawaiian monk seal is one of the most endangered seal species in the world. Hawaiian monk seals are found in the Hawaiian archipelago, which includes both the main and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. These monk seals are endemic to these islands, occurring nowhere else in the world. The population is estimated to be around 1,400 seals, about 1,100 seals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, and 300 seals in the main Hawaiian Islands. Habitat loss and food limitation due to climate change, shark predation, and disease have caused their populations to decline. Human-caused threats such as boat strikes, fishing gear entanglement, killing, and other such human-seal interactions are a few of the threats faced by these seals.

9. Green Sea turtle

The green sea turtle is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle. They are unique among sea turtles in that they are herbivores, eating mostly seagrasses and algae. Green turtles are found throughout the world. This species of turtle was hunted for meat and fat, as well as their eggs were collected for food, causing their populations to decline drastically all over the world. Even though hunting of sea turtles is banned, even today these turtles are poached for their shells and meat, which is sold in illegal wildlife trade markets. Along with illegal hunting, these turtle populations are declining due to threats such as bycatch in fishing gear, vessel strikes, loss of nesting habitat due to coastal development, and climate change. Many other species of turtles, such as hawksbill, leatherback, loggerhead, and olive ridley turtles, are classified as endangered species.

10. Irrawaddy dolphins

Irrawaddy dolphins are found in coastal areas in South and Southeast Asia and in three rivers: the Ayeyarwady (Myanmar), the Mahakam (Indonesian Borneo), and the Mekong. No range-wide survey has been conducted for this vulnerable species; however, the worldwide population is estimated to be around 7,000 individuals. Irrawaddy dolphins are primarily threatened by bycatch, illegal capture for the captive industry, pollution, and habitat loss.

* Cetacean (order Cetacea), any member of an entirely aquatic group of mammals commonly known as whales, dolphins, and porpoises

Special thanks to Umeed Mistry, Reef Watch, and WCS-India for allowing us to use their wonderful images for this site.