Mermaids are officially extinct in China

The fairy fish (also known as dugongs or dugongs) is functionally extinct in China, due to widespread habitat destruction and poaching, scientists say.

According to Professor Samuel Turvey, of the ZSL Institute of Zoology, fishing and ramming of marine animals is one of the reasons why fairy fish are gradually disappearing in China.

He is one of the authors of a study on the presence of fairy fish in China, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

'Our new study shows strong evidence for the disappearance of another aquatic mammal from China. Sadly, again, this is due to unsustainable human activity, 'The Guardian quoted Mr Turvey as saying.

Mermaids are functionally extinct in China.

Mermaids are particularly dependent on seagrasses, a marine habitat that is rapidly declining due to water pollution and human impact on the coast.

Mr Turvey said seagrass beds are also vulnerable to 'eutrophication' - when algae blooms are formed by increased nutrient availability in water due to human activities, such as wastewater.

This 'reduces the ability of light to penetrate seawater, thereby preventing the photosynthesis of seagrasses,' he explains.

Professor Turvey described the findings as a 'wake-up call', calling for prioritizing conservation efforts in China.

Since 1988, China has classified the fairy fish as a national key animal of the first level in need of protection. This is the highest level of protection. However, as of 2008, there are no documents indicating the presence of mermaid fish in China.