Specialists warn this can lead to several species falling off the biodiversity map

May 15, 2013 07:41 GMT  ·  By

A study recently published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences details how industrial fisheries impact on the wellbeing of seabirds.

More precisely, this research shows how, because of said fisheries' pulling a tad too much fish out of the ocean, seabirds have been forced to change their diets.

The specialists who carried out this investigation fear that the phenomenon could ultimately translate into several seabird species' falling off the biodiversity map.

Mongabay informs us that these claims are based on information collected while analyzing the make-up of bones belonging to Hawaiian petrels, a species of seabird native to the Hawaii region.

By the looks of it, it was about 100 years ago when these birds switched from eating relatively big prey to mainly consuming small prey.

Interestingly enough, it was about that time when industrial fisheries also started taking off.

Since the Hawaiian petrels' diet remained very much unchanged for nearly 3,000 years prior to said date, the specialists concluded that industrial fisheries were the ones that compelled these birds to alter their dietary habits.

As the researchers explain, industrial fisheries need be held accountable for toying with predator and prey relationships.

Although this study only focused on Hawaiian petrels, it is quite likely that other marine species have also been affected by the unprecedented rates at which fish and seafood are being pulled out of the ocean for human consumption.

Given the fact that said birds are currently listed as a vulnerable species, the specialists urge that those looking to help them overcome extinction also give due consideration to how their eating habits are being affected by practices such as industrial fishing.

“Conservation efforts for most seabirds focus on breeding grounds where habitat loss and predation from introduced species are obvious hazards,” the researchers reportedly write in their paper.

“However, rapidly shifting or disappearing prey bases may be a hidden threat to Hawaiian petrels and other marine species,” they go on to argue.