TEHRAN (Iran News) –Breeding of marine species is subject to compliance with environmental considerations, including not releasing sewage and waste, not polluting and destructing the environment, the deputy head of the Department of Environment for marine environment and wetlands, has said.

Mojtaba Zoljudi made the remarks on National Aquatic Day which is celebrated annually on September 27.

There are different aquatic species such as Risso’s dolphin, killer whales, sea turtles, all kinds of water birds, all kinds of plankton, roundworms, sea anemones, and Pacific sea nettle, in the Persian seas, but waste and oil release and the discharge of untreated human sewage have had destructive effects on the marine ecosystem, he said, ISNA reported on Tuesday.

Referring to the existing threats to aquatic life, he stated that there are many threatening factors including various types of pollution, over-exploitation of fisheries, the use of destructive fishing tools, the destruction of natural habitats, invasive species, and climate change.

Aquatic species reproduction, while obtaining a license from the DOE, depends on compliance with environmental factors, including the non-release of sewage and waste, non-pollution and destruction of the environment.

Emphasizing the use of native species and not breeding non-native and invasive species, observing the distances of breeding sites from important and sensitive habitats and areas under management, and carrying out periodic monitoring programs of species breeding sites based on a documented monitoring program, are other requirements for reproduction of marine species.

Endangered ecosystem

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), at least 40 percent of animals, insects, and plants are at risk of extinction across the world.

Currently, more than 41 percent of amphibians, 26 percent of mammals, 21 percent of reptiles, and 13 percent of birds are threatened. In the latest statistics, the number of endangered species in the country is 75 vertebrate species (18 species of mammals, 29 species of birds, 4 species of amphibians, and 16 species of reptiles) on the IUCN Red List.

Iranian vertebrates are counted as 198 mammal species, 559 species of birds, 242 species of reptiles, and 25 species of amphibians (1023 species in total); 274 approved species of fish in inland waters, and 975 species of marine fish (sharks and aquatic fish) has been registered in the country, but this list is subject to change due to genetic and field studies.

According to the latest studies, about 1,300 species of vertebrates, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and aquatic fish, about 30,000 species of invertebrates, and 8,000 species of plants have been identified in the country.

Unfortunately, over the past two decades, human activities have led to the alarming degradation of ecosystems, and the deletion of genes, species, and biological capabilities; Human threats to biodiversity have accelerated the most over the past 50 years over the entire history of human life.