The world's 20 'hot spots' of marine and lake conservation

Scientists have identified the 20 most important marine and lake areas in the world, to protect the survival of mammals living in these places.

The Guardian newspaper (UK) quoted ecologist Sandra Pompa of the National Autonomous University of Mexico and the lead researcher warned: 'The prospect of marine ecosystems in the world is deteriorating rapidly, the main reason is due to habitat degradation, invasive alien species and overexploitation of natural resources'.

Ms Pompa said there were many serious decline in marine mammals, many of them such as the Caribe monk seal, the Atlantic blue whale or Steller sea extinction in the world. the 20th century only because of their commercial hair, fat and meat.

A Vaquita dolphin died in Baja California Bay, Mexico. (Photo: Reuters)

Researchers have identified 20 important marine and lake areas in the world - home to 129 mammal species (123 species of marine mammals and 6 species of freshwater mammals) based on their geographical scope. They created a geographic map for all 129 species and established their geographic information system database within a grid of 10,000 square kilometers.

According to research results published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), up to 9 out of the 20 regions are 'houses' of 84% of marine mammals and The remaining 11 protected areas are 'irreplaceable' - where species are not found anywhere else in the world.

There are 9 major marine reserves - refugees of 108 species - including the waters of Baja California (Mexico), northeastern America, Peru, Argentina, northwestern Africa, South Africa, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. The remaining 11 smaller marine protected areas - inhabited by endemic species - include waters around the Hawaiian (US) islands, Kerguelen (France), Galapagos (Ecuador), and San Felix (Chile). and Juan Fernández (Chile), Lake Baikal (Serbia), Caspian Sea (closed lake), Mediterranean and large rivers like Amazon, Ganges and Yangtze.

Baikal seals are in danger. (Photo: Arkive)

Their analysis also shows that the above 20 "hot spots" are under pressure from human impacts such as climate change, ocean pollution and water transport, leading to mammals. In the endangered sea, such as the dolphin Vaquita (Phocoena sinus) - with a body length of about 1.5 m, is believed to be the world's smallest dolphin that lives in Baja California Bay, Mexico - only about 250 mature individuals.

'Baikal seals (Pusa sibirica) are also very few species. You can think of Vaquita dolphin who escaped from the Baja California Gulf to live somewhere else but the Baikal seal is impossible. If any cause disrupts Lake Baikal ecology or unfortunately this species suffers from disease, they will perish , 'Ms. Pompa stressed.