East Pacific

The East Pacific region represents one of the world's most biodiverse marine ecosystems, encompassing the waters from the Galápagos Islands to the coasts of Central and South America. This area includes critical upwelling zones, seamount ecosystems, and the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor. According to IUCN Red List 2025 data, all 20 assessed species in the region are critically endangered, representing a complete biodiversity crisis across multiple taxonomic groups including marine mammals, corals, molluscs, and crustaceans. The region's unique oceanographic conditions, including the Humboldt Current and seasonal upwelling patterns, create highly productive waters that support endemic species found nowhere else on Earth. However, these same conditions make species particularly vulnerable to climate-driven changes in ocean temperature and chemistry. Primary threats include severe ocean acidification affecting coral and mollusc populations, rising sea temperatures disrupting critical breeding and feeding areas, and intensified El Niño events causing ecosystem collapse. Industrial fishing operations and deep-sea mining exploration compound these pressures, particularly around seamount habitats. The Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor initiative, connecting protected areas across four nations, represents the most significant conservation effort. However, current trends indicate continued deterioration, with coral bleaching events becoming more frequent and marine mammal populations showing persistent decline despite protection measures.

Source: IUCN Red List 2025-2, GBIF, national survey data