Life Under Water

Many whale subspecies are endangered due to excessive whaling. The blue, fin, gray, humpback, Sei, right and sperm whale are all subspecies listed as endangered by the NOAA Fisheries Service as of 2011. Another mammal at threat is the porpoise, which is related to whales and dolphins. As of 2011 the vaquita is critically endangered. It can only be found in the Gulf of California and is at risk from fishing nets. The vaquita was listed as critically endangered from 1996 to 2011.

The green turtle is one of several reptiles listed as endangered.

Underwater endangered animals can be found in oceans, seas and rivers around the world. Global warming, human activity and other factors are to blame for the endangerment of many of these animals. From the delicate coral polyp to the intimidating great white shark, some underwater animals are struggling to survive the dangers that face them.

As of 2011, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service considered 139 species of fish endangered. These include subspecies of chub, trout, salmon, madtom, pupfish, shiner, sturgeon and sucker. These types of fish are affected by a loss of habitat and over-fishing. Large species of fish, like sharks, are also endangered. In 2005, the ICUN listed slightly more than 200 subspecies of shark as threatened. Some sharks, like the great white, great hammerhead, ganges and kitefin, have been on the list since 1994. Sharks are subject to extensive over-fishing all over the world.