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MARINE LIFE
More than 300 species of shark and ray threatened with extinction IUCN REPORT
New assessments by the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) released this month show that 316 species of sharks and chimeras are now threatened with extinction . The Red List updates include more than 420 assessments of shark and ray species , of which 154 are classified as " threatened " or at risk of extinction in the wild . Among them are four species of hammerhead sharks , and four species of endangered angel shark , making them one of the most threatened families of sharks , in addition to the giant manta ray , which now faces an extremely high risk of extinction . Our ocean is in crisis due to pollution , climate change and the overexploitation of marine life on a large scale . Sharks are among the hardest hit by overfishing . The numbers continue to decline , yet more than 1,000 species of sharks and rays play various major roles in marine ecosystems , intertwining the health of our surroundings and the people who depend on them .
Diventures Magazine December 2020