Part 4 of the Wildlife crime – understanding risks, avenues for action learning series explores how corruption facilitates marine species trafficking.
3. Impacts on ecosystems and sustainable development
3.3. Disruption of ecosystems
Over-exploitation of certain species has significant knock-on effects on other fish populations. For example the over-exploitation of a predator leads to an over-population of lesser species, which will in turn cause an imbalance in marine ecosystems.
Illegal fishing and over-fishing of reef fish have also led to the loss of corals worldwide, as fish grazers help keep corals healthy.