How many mammals are curently threatened by extinction?

Throughout history, marine species have experienced fewer extinctions than land-based species. However, marine species are currently disappearing at twice the rate of land-dwelling species. About 50% of coral reefs around the world have died and almost 33% of reef-forming corals are threatened by extinction .

72 marine animal species are critically endangered, and more than one-third of marine mammals are threatened by extinction. The most endangered marine mammal is the vaquita, with less than 30 remaining in the wild. The hawksbill turtle is also critically endangered. The species is heavily dependent on coral reefs for food and is negatively impacted by poor reef health. The smalltooth sawfish was the first marine fish to receive federal protection as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act in 2003.

Among the most endangered species we also have sea otters, many types of whales ( blue, fin, sei and beluga whales) as well as many species of dolphins. In fact, the Society of Marine Mammalogy recognizes 41 distinct dolphin species, nine of which are considered endangered by either the IUCN, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), or both, and this is mainly due to human activity, whether it be indirect conflict from fishing net bycatch or vessel strikes.