Farewell, Java stingaree: Scientist declare the first marine fish extinction

In December 2023, the Java stingaree, a species of stingray, was declared extinct, making it the first marine fish to go extinct due to human actions. The species was initially described by a German naturalist, Eduard von Martens, who purchased a specimen from a fish market in Jakarta in 1862. Since then, the Java stingaree has not been spotted, and researchers know very little about it. The extinction is believed to be the result of unregulated fishing and habitat loss. This serves as a warning for the need to protect threatened marine species. Other stingaree species, such as the Kai stingaree and New Ireland stingaree, may also be at risk of extinction. Overall, the decline in shark and ray populations by 71% in the last 50 years highlights the need for sustainable fisheries management and conservation efforts.

https://news.mongabay.com/2023/12/farewell-java-stingaree-scientist-declare-the-first-marine-fish-extinction/

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