The United Nations has painted its gloomiest picture yet for the world's maritime resources.
The latest report says that by the year 2050, the large fishes of the sea including tuna will face extinction.
Also, at the current rate of ecological destruction, the annual global loss will amount to a staggering 4.5 trillion US dollars by 2050.
These projections emerge from the ongoing meeting of the United Nations Environment Programme in Nagoya, Japan dubbed the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The report predicts that by 2050 productivity will have decreased in nearly all areas, and with it, fish catches.
As a result, worldwide fisheries will be heavily dominated by smaller species lower on the food chain that are smaller than 20 centimeters-long.
As causes for this, the report cited over-fishing, rising sea temperatures and sea pollution.
In addition, according to the report, climate change, if left unchecked, could cause sea surface temperatures to rise, creating much damage to coral reefs and other temperature-sensitive marine organisms.
However, there is a more pressing issue at the Nagoya gathering of delegates from 193 countries.
The conference is trying to set an outline that would affect how and when companies and researchers can use genes from plants or animals that originate in developing countries.
Countries rich in diverse plant and animal species, including Brazil, India and Colombia, say the measure would help to ensure that developing countries benefit from discoveries based on native species or traditional medicine.
But talks over the "access and benefit sharing" protocol have been bogged down.
Developed and developing countries are sharply at odds over issues such as how to share the profits from such resources when they are processed into pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and so forth.
The participating countries are having much difficulty seeing eye to eye on each phrase and wording that will be included in the Nagoya Protocol.
The conference wraps up the 10-day meeting on October 28th after adopting the protocol.
Park Jong-hong Arirang News.

Reporter : julian@arirang.co.kr