Oysters Possible Dodos of the Sea in Overfishing Scare Seen in Study on 800 Shellfish Species

According to a new study on 800 various shellfish species, overfishing of oysters may make them the dodo birds of the sea.

Overfishing the Dodos of the Sea

Clams, oysters, mussels, and scallops were among over 800 shellfish species on the list that had never before been gathered by humans.

According to them, the characteristics that make a species a target for harvesting also reduce its risk of extinction.

However, the team of British and American experts identified some ocean areas as needing "special concern" for both management and conservation, including the East Atlantic and the Northeast and Southeast Pacific.

The study discovered that 801 species of bivalves, which are aquatic mollusks with compressed bodies contained in a hinged shell, are heavily exploited by humans.

Stewart Edie, a geologist and scientist at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, investigated how many of the same characteristics that endear bivalve species to people also reduce their chance of extinction.

Around the world, these species can be found in a wide variety of locales with a vast variety of varying temperatures.

Bivalves are remarkably resistant to extinction caused by natural causes because of their versatility.

These species and their ecosystems are at increased risk due to rising human demand, though, at the same time.

Edie, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History's curator of ancient bivalves, said it is fortunate that the species people eat typically have higher resilliency against extinction.

The University of Birmingham's Dr. Shan Huang, a macro-ecologist, noted that it was "ironic" how the same characteristics that make bivalves more appealing also prevent them from going extinct.

However, because humans have the power to drastically alter the ecosystem, there is a need to manage these species sustainably to ensure their continued existence for future generations.

Huang claims that it is rather paradoxical that several characteristics that make bivalve species less susceptible to going extinct also make them much more appealing as a food source, being larger and occurring in shallower waters across a larger geographic region. Therefore, the human effect may disproportionally eliminate the powerful species.

Responsible fishing can possibly diversify the species that are harvested and prevent oysters from becoming the extinct species of the sea by recognizing these species and promoting their recognition on a global scale.

For thousands of years, bivalve mollusks have nourished humans, filtered their drinking water, and even furnished certain ancient civilizations with building materials.

Overfishing and Extinction Scare

The Calusa tribe once gathered 18.6 billion oysters from Florida's Estero Bay, using their shells to build an island. However, history demonstrates that people frequently overexploited bivalves, such as European invaders and fisheries. Oyster populations in Botany Bay, San Francisco Bay, and Chesapeake Bay were all damaged by this.

Edie and his team identified the 801 species of bivalves that are targeted by fishermen after noticing a dearth of information on exploited bivalves. Bivalves that had been harvested shared the following characteristics: huge size, found in shallow habitat, extensive distribution, and temperature tolerance.

These characteristics also prevent organisms from going extinct. The study can help inform conservation decisions by pointing out areas at high risk and species that require more research. In order to properly control populations, the team hopes to use these discoveries to identify previously unrecognized harvested bivalves.