Data collected and analysed on a further 5,000 marine species have now been considered in The International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) status figures.

Peak areas for fish population decline were found in China, The Philippines and Indonesia according to the scientists conducting the study.

With 38% of fish populations still classed a data-deficient, it is important to take these figures with a pinch of 'saltwater'. However, it is a step forward for marine conservation thanks to the study, published yesterday by PLOS biology and carried out by Nicolas Loiseau and colleagues at the Marine Biodiversity, Exploitation and Conservation Unit (MARBEC).

Not only do fish feed 3 billion people worldwide (WWF) but they are an essential component of marine ecosystems through nutrient-cycling and controlling algae growth to prevent the depletion of oxygen.

The research conducted by French scientists from the MARBEC unit can help prioritise areas of conservation concern and prevent the complete collapse of the worlds oceans and their much loved animal and plant species.