Oceans are rapidly running out of oxygen at an alarming rate due to the climate change, according to scientists.
A massively high number of ecosystems are in danger of collapse. In particular, sharks, tuna, marlin and other large fish species are found to be at risk.
Dead zones (where oxygen is effectively absent) have quadrupled in the last half-century and currently, there are at least 700 acres where oxygen is at dangerously low levels, up from 45 where research was first recorded in the 1960s.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) presented the findings on Saturday, December 7, at the UN Climate Conference in Madrid, where officials are currently negotiating ways to tackle the climate crisis.
The threat to oceans has become increasingly more severe due to climate change and global warming. And as more carbon dioxide is released, enhancing the greenhouse effect, much of the heat is absorbed by the oceans.
By the end of this century, oceans are expected to lose around 3-4% of their oxygen.