Table 1.
Percent decline (biomass, catch, percent cover) for fauna and flora from various marine environments
| Taxon | Starting date | Location | % loss | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estuaries and coastal seas | ||||
| Large whales | Pristine | Global | 85% | 23 |
| Small whales | Pristine | Global | 59% | 23 |
| Pinnipeds and otters | Pristine | Global | 55% | 23 |
| Sirenia | Pristine | Global | 90% | 23 |
| Raptors | Pristine | Global | 79% | 23 |
| Seabirds | Pristine | Global | 57% | 23 |
| Shorebirds | Pristine | Global | 61% | 23 |
| Waterfowl/waders | Pristine | Global | 58% | 23 |
| Sea turtles | Pristine | Global | 87% | 23 |
| Diadromous fish | Pristine | Global | 81% | 23 |
| Groundfish | Pristine | Global | 62% | 23 |
| Large pelagics | Pristine | Global | 74% | 23 |
| Small pelagics | Pristine | Global | 45% | 23 |
| Oysters | Pristine | Global | 91% | 23 |
| Mussels | Pristine | Global | 47% | 23 |
| Crustaceans | Pristine | Global | 39% | 23 |
| Other invertebrates | Pristine | Global | 49% | 23 |
| Seagrass | Pristine | Global | 65% | 23 |
| SAV* | Pristine | Global | 48% | 23 |
| Wetlands | Pristine | Global | 67% | 23 |
| Large carnivores | Pristine | Global | 77% | 23 |
| Small carnivores | Pristine | Global | 60% | 23 |
| Large herbivores | Pristine | Global | 63% | 23 |
| Small herbivores | Pristine | Global | 54% | 23 |
| Suspension feeders | Pristine | Global | 68% | 23 |
| Shelf and pelagic fisheries | ||||
| Large predatory fishes | 1900 | N. Atlantic | 89% | 3 |
| Atlantic cod | 1852 | Scotian shelf | 96% | 24 |
| Fish 4–16 kg | Pristine | North Sea | 97% | 39 |
| Fish 16–66 kg | Pristine | North Sea | 99% | 39 |
| Large predatory fish | 1950s | Global | 90% | 4 |
| Large pelagic predators | 1950s | Tropical Pacific | 90% | 47 |
| Fishery biomass | 1959 | Bohai Sea | 95% | 38 |
| Coastal and pelagic sharks | ||||
| Hammerheads | 1986 | N.W. Atlantic | 89% | 31 |
| Scalloped hammerhead | 1972 | North Carolina | 98% | 30 |
| White | 1986 | N.W. Atlantic | 79% | 31 |
| Tiger | 1986 | N.W. Atlantic | 65% | 31 |
| Tiger | 1973 | North Carolina | 97% | 30 |
| Carcharhinus spp. | 1986 | N.W. Atlantic | 61% | 31 |
| Thresher | 1986 | N.W. Atlantic | 80% | 31 |
| Blue | 1986 | N.W. Atlantic | 60% | 31 |
| Mako | 1986 | N.W. Atlantic | 70% | 31 |
| Mako | 1950s | Gulf of Mexico | 45% | 32 |
| Oceanic whitetip | 1950s | Gulf of Mexico | 99% | 32 |
| Silky | 1950s | Gulf of Mexico | 91% | 32 |
| Dusky | 1950s | Gulf of Mexico | 79% | 32 |
| Dusky | 1972 | North Carolina | 99% | 30 |
| Blacktip shark | 1972 | North Carolina | 93% | 30 |
| Bull shark | 1973 | North Carolina | 99% | 30 |
| Sandbar shark | 1976 | North Carolina | 87% | 30 |
| Coral reefs | ||||
| Live coral cover | 1977 | Caribbean | 80% | 59 |
| Live coral cover | 1977 | Caribbean | 93% | 60 |
| Live coral cover | 1980–1982 | Indo-West Pacific | 46% | 64 |
| Commercial sponges | 1924 | Florida | 89% | 79 |
| Diadema antillarum | 1977 | Caribbean | 92% | 80 |
| Reef fish density | 1977 | Caribbean | 90% | 60 |
| Green turtle | 1700s | Caribbean | >99% | 82 |
| Hawksbill turtle | 1700s | Caribbean | >99% | 82 |
| Goliath grouper | 1956 | Florida Keys | 96% | 71 |
| Large carnivores | Pristine | Global | 85% | 8, 69 |
| Small carnivores | Pristine | Global | 61% | 8, 69 |
| Large herbivores | Pristine | Global | 87% | 8, 69 |
| Small herbivores | Pristine | Global | 66% | 8, 69 |
| Corals | Pristine | Global | 61% | 8, 69 |
| Suspension feeders | Pristine | Global | 49% | 8, 69 |
| Seagrasses | Pristine | Global | 50% | 8, 69 |
Starting dates are beginning of time series except in cases of estimated declines from the pristine, unexploited condition. See original references for details.
*Submerged aquatic vegetation.