New Study Shows Overfishing of Sharks is Hurting Reef Ecosystems

Two scientists from the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the University of Toronto are in agreement that shark overfishing is hurting reef ecosystems after studies of reefs 300km off Australia’s northwestern coast showed that decreases in sharks also resulted in decreases in herbivorous fish, which help keep algae at bay on growing coral reefs.

Where herbivorous fish like parrotfish were noticeably absent, mid-level predators like snappers were found in abundance, their populations left unchecked by apex predators. The absence of herbivorous fish has long-term impacts on coral reefs, who have no other means of regulating the algae that grow prolifically and choke out further growth.

Source: www.aquaviews.net