This archive report was first published on 7 October 2019.
Published on October 7, 2019, a report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) highlighted the top five most dangerous seas with the greatest number of shipping accidents in the last 15 years.
The South China Sea, East Indies, Eastern Mediterranean, Black Sea, and North Sea topped the list, with accidents linked to weather, ageing and poorly-maintained ships, and a disregard for safety regulations.
Environmental risk is also a significant factor, with some of the most sensitive marine environments located in hotspot zones for shipwrecks.
Oil spills, in particular, are devastating to the ocean and coastal regions, while the presence of creatures like lionfish and sea snakes makes survival during an accident minimal.
As the WWF report noted, 'The gods feed on blood. If they do not get blood, they take it for themselves. Animal blood will satisfy them. But modernity has made people forget these things.'
