Overfishing And Humans Effects On Penguins

Humans’ Effects on Penguins Some species of penguin could be extinct by 2100 (Allen). Human-caused issues, including overfishing, oil pollution, tourism, and global warming, are changing penguins’ lives for the worse. If nothing is done to prevent further damage, humanity could be responsible for the extinction of several penguin species (Allen). One issue, overfishing, is making it very difficult for penguins to find food (Anitei). With people catching over 5.6 million tons of krill every year, the penguins are robbed of their food (“Krill Fisheries,” 2015). Antarctic krill are two-inch-long invertebrates similar to shrimp, and sustain most animals living in Antarctica (“Krill,” n.d.). They are penguins’ primary food source (“Krill,” n.d.). Unfortunately, 80% of Antarctic krill have died since the 1970s, mostly due to global warming eliminating much of their main food source, ice-algae (“Krill,” n.d.). If humans continue to kill too many krill, it will leave the penguins with nothing to eat.

Most come to experience being in a continent so different from their own. Unfortunately, human presence can negatively affect penguins. When penguins are surrounded by large numbers of people, they become distracted and stressed (Anitei). The penguins are so put-off by the presence of dozens of other life forms that they cannot focus on the important things in their lives, such as collecting food and taking care of their young (Anitei). Additionally, most tourists fly to Antarctica, causing the penguins to be frightened by the loud plane engines