The world’s oceans are rapidly losing oxygen, according to a new scientific review highlighted by Gizmodo. Researchers say the problem is escalating quickly and is being driven by human activity, raising concerns about the health of marine ecosystems and the stability of the planet’s natural systems.

Oxygen is essential for nearly all multicellular life, and its decline in aquatic environments poses a serious threat to organisms that depend on it to survive. As oxygen levels fall, marine waters can become increasingly hostile to life, putting added stress on ocean habitats that are already under pressure.

Scientists are warning that ocean deoxygenation should be treated as a major environmental crisis rather than a secondary issue. Because the oceans play a central role in supporting life on Earth, widespread oxygen loss could have effects that extend beyond individual species and disrupt broader ecological balance.

The review adds to growing alarm over the condition of the seas and the consequences of continued human pressure on the environment. With oxygen disappearing from marine waters at a fast pace, researchers argue that the issue demands far more serious attention.