Threatened Marine Species

Hundreds of marine species around the world are in danger of extinction. Not in the next 10 years, or even the next 5 years. But right now. Many people find this hard to believe. They think that marine species are less vulnerable to extinction than freshwater and land animals because they're generally widespread, produce lots of young and have high population growth rates. Unfortunately, scientific evidence is showing that these beliefs aren't always the truth and many ocean species are in great danger.

At the Perry Institute for Marine Science, we're working to identify and study threatened or endangered species throughout the greater Caribbean, so they can be placed on the World Conservation Union's (IUCN) Red Listâ„¢. We're also working together with other conservation groups and the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of the IUCN to shatter the myths about marine species. We're currently developing a multi-year, collaborative project that will educate the world on endangered marine species to improve management and conservation of these species and their habitats.

Right now, species like the smalltooth sawfish, Brazilian guitarfish and the speckled hind are classified as Endangered and Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals(TM). In the next decade, they and other species like them may be lost to the world forever - unless we do something now.

Vanishing Marine Species poster series The Vanishing Marine Species poster series is part of our project with the IUNC. This series links science with dynamic photography to highlight individual marine species that risk extinction and urgently require conservation action.

A prototype poster for this series has been produced in collaboration with the IUCN/SSC Grouper and Wrasse Specialist Group. The poster features the humphead wrasse, one of the largest and most spectacular of the reef fishes. The humphead wrasse is declining in numbers because of overfishing, primarily for the live reef food fish trade centered in Hong Kong. The poster is being distributed to relevant agencies and organizations throughout the Indo-Pacific and elsewhere to help conserve this species. For further information on the humphead wrasse, visit www.humpheadwrasse.info.