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| | Bad news for seafood loving diners: By 2048, the fish and seafood in the world could disappear. Over fishing and pollution is destroying the ocean's ecosystems at an alarming pace today according to researchers in the United States and Canada. The report of these researchers indicates that if changes are not made, sea-life will disappear. The study in the report is the most exhaustive to date on the subject and was published in the November 3rd issues of the US Journal Science. The report is entitled "Impact of Biodiversity Loss on Ocean Ecosystem Services." The study lasted for four years. The study and report concludes that is the trends continue, seafood species will collapse all together by 2048. Indeed, 29 of currently fished species of sea-life were considered to be collapsed in 2003. The disturbing trend is not expected to abate absent some very definitive intervention and a clear change in the way that sea life of different types are being fished and harvested today.
Interesting fish facts:
Historians prove that fish is traditionally one of the early symbols of Christianity. According to Greek, “fish” - Ίχθύς, “ichthys”, is an acronym of Greek phrase that is translated as "Jesus Christ, God’s son, The Saviour”.
This phrase is found on stone slabs - sacred relics in Jerusalem. Image of two fishes on sides of vertical anchor with top portion in the form of cross was used as secret “entry-password” at the time, when the first Christians were chased by Romans.
Fishes, which are dangerous to humans:
Considerable types of fishes, which pose danger to human being, are found in Pacific Ocean.
They can be conventionally divided into 4 groups:
Stinging;
Fishes, which can cause traumas using prickles or horns (zebra fish, stingray);
Electric injuries or electrocution with current (electric ray or shock fish);
Fishes, which can cause food poisonings.
Separate group constitutes fishes, which can hit or fly over the boats, can overturn, break them or injure people. The following fishes can fall under this group: flying fishes, manta & some other skates, sword-fish, etc.
Separately, it is also necessary to talk about South American fresh-water catfish – candiru: thin, as a match stick, it penetrates through all conceivable apertures in body, can even penetrate into urinogenital channel, which endangers the life of attacked person. As a rule, an operation is required to remove the catfish - candiru.
Sting fishes:
Sharks:
Most popular dangerous fishes - sharks.
Out of approximately 350 existing kinds of sharks, only some are rather dangerous. Greatest danger is posed by kinds such as white shark, bull shark, tiger shark, short-fin mako shark, long-finned shark.
Kinds of sharks such as hammer-head shark, grey horn shark, sandbar shark, brown shark, oceanic white tip shark are slightly make way for the above-mentioned congeners in bloodthirstiness.
Blue sharks do not attack very often as the two above enlisted groups but are found in length & breadth of Pacific Ocean.
Least dangerous of this fish group are mackerel sharks, seven-branchiate shark, sleeper, zebra shark, nurse shark & fox shark.
It is necessary to remember: any shark with length of more than 80cm can pose life threatening danger to person & hence it is not worth or anyway provoke the representatives of this family.
Barracuda:
Barracuda family consists of 26 kinds, individual representatives of which can grow upto 2m in length (smallest being 30 - 50 cm).
In spite of the fact, that usually barracudas do not perceive swimmers as hunting objects, in individual cases, they can attack human beings. Thanks to their sharp teeth, strong jaws & speed, stings of barracudas can lead to heavy bleeding & serious injuries.
Barracudas live in all tropical & subtropical oceans & seas and Mediterranean barracuda is sometimes found in Black sea.
Moray eels:
Moray eel family consists of 11 kinds, some of which reach 3 m length & weigh 10 kg (on an average, length of individuals is upto 1.5). Moray eels are found in rock clefts & between stones of seabed layer can pose danger to divers.
In regions with developed diving infrastructure, moray eels are one of the “attractions” for tourists - they are quite comfortable with human beings & accept feeding from “hands”. Nevertheless, humans can receives stings even during their quiet behaviour. Cowed or entrapped moray eels are rather aggressive and can cause serious injuries with their sharp teeth (right up to eating up of fingers).
Piranhas:
Piranhas - family of small schooling fishes with length of only upto 20-50 cm (maximum of 60 cm). Piranhas are found in river basins of Amazon.
Of available 30 kinds of piranhas, which are found in the rivers of South America, only 5 kinds are dangerous & two kinds are the most dangerous - common piranha & big piranha. Piranhas pose danger to person because piranhas hunt in groups & can attack any object, which was found in waters. Due to large number of fishes in groups, high movement speed & sharp teeth, piranhas literally tear apart the victim into small parts & feast leaving only the large bones. Nevertheless, many kinds of piranhas are suitable for aquariums.
Tiger fishes:
Tiger fishes are found in Nile, Rudolf Island & Zambezi. Tiger fishes are active predators & can reach upto 1.5m length. Huge individuals can pose danger to person by taking him as a prey or invader of its living space. Besides, even after catching tiger fishes, it is necessary to be careful of their teeth since tiger fish, which is taken out from waters can even inflict a serious sting.
Grouper:
Jewfish or gigantic grouper, grouper, which are sometimes called stone grouper. Groupers desperately protect their territory & can cause serious traumas to those, who, according to fish, have intruded. Growing in weight up to 400 kg and length of up to 3.6 m and possessing fighting nature, this fish can be dangerous to divers. |
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[ The world's fish and seafood could disappear by 2048 as overfishing and pollution destroy ocean ecosystems at an accelerating pace, US and Canadian researchers reported. ]
