A new United Nations assessment of ocean health documents a “deepening crisis” as climate change, pollution, overfishing and biodiversity loss threaten marine ecosystems crucial to human survival.
The result is rising sea levels, acidifying seas, dying coral reefs and declining fish stocks that supply 20% of the animal protein humans consume, according to the report released Monday and compiled by 600 scientists from 86 nations. It’s the third World Ocean Assessment since 2015 and was last updated in 2021.
