Since many causes of the extinction of ocean species are human-made, perhaps the first step in saving and protecting ocean species is by changing humans' attitudes on the issue. In several instances, harvesting has been banned, partially due to the fact that hunting specific types of organisms has changed and are continuing to change (Knowlton 2014). Another crucial step in protecting our ocean species is by protecting specific areas of the ocean where endangered species live. Due to this, the concept of ocean zoning or Marine Protected Areas are present in almost all marine conservation plans (Knowlton 2014). It is also essential to reduce ocean pollution in order to protect species living there. Plastic bags are one dangerous material that frequently end up in the ocean. Due to this plastic bag bans are increasingly spreading in the U.S and other countries (Knowlton 2014). Since many ocean habitats have been damaged, it is also crucial to restore those habitats. Ocean communities often rely heavily on large organisms, known as ecosystem engineers,  that create 3-dimensional structures that other organisms depend on (Knowlton 2014).  Therefore, when populations of these organisms such as seagrasses, shellfish, mangroves or coral, are significantly decreased, it is important to first restore these organisms in order to prevent numbers of other organisms from decreasing (Knowlton 2014). Restoration of these engineer species begins with eliminating the factor that caused the decrease in the organisms (Knowlton 2014). For instance, sometimes habitat restoration involves eliminating invasive species (Knowlton 2014). Additionally it is also sometimes critical to hyper-restore conditions, which involves making more conditions even more favorable than they once were in order for a speedy recovery of engineer organisms. 

It is very important to understand and protect our ocean species, because their extinction affects not only the ocean, but other ecosystems as well. The overexploitation of fish causes sea birds and aquatic animals to go hungry (Sielen 2013). The sequential process that is caused due to overfishing is referred to as fishing down the food chain by marine scientists (Sielen 2013).  Additionally, since the ocean has been depleted of about 90% of predatory fish, coral reefs have been affected by being smothered by seaweed and seagrasses (Knowlton 2014). The current state of the overall ocean ecosystem is at risk as 35% of mangroves. 61% of coral, 29% of seagrass beds, and 85% of oyster beds are either completely gone or severely damaged (Knowlton 2014).   Humans are also deeply affected by issues that affect the ocean. Specifically, approximately 50 billion U.S dollars are lost annually from mismanaged fisheries (Knowlton 2014).

One of the many causes of extinction is overfishing, which refers to the overexploitation and excessive killing of fish by humans.  A 2003 study suggests that the population of open-ocean species and large groundfish has declined by 90% since 1950 (Sielen 2013).  Some scientists argue that some fish that are of high value, may be pursued even when their numbers are severely low, which could cause extinction (Stevens 1996). A growing demand for seafood is one factor that causes overfishing. According to the U.N Food and Agricultural Organization, it is estimated that 15 years from now, about 50% more fish than fishers are able to supply, will be required to meet the growing demand for seafood (Stevens 1996). The growing demand for seafood likely creates a growing pressure in fishermen to overfish, therefore causing a greater risk of ocean species extinction. Another problem related to overfishing is our methods of fishing. Industrial fishing fleets drag lines with thousands of hooks and nets are dropped thousands of feet below the sea’s service (Sielen 2013). This causes non targeted species such as dolphins, sea turtles, and seabirds to be accidentally captured or entangled (Sielen 2013). Non-targeted species are caught in fishing nets frequently, as about one third of species that fishermen pull out of  the water every year were not meant to be harvested (Sielen 2013). Some ocean species are heavier hit than others from overfishing. Specifically, the white abalone, which used to be plentiful in California, are now severely depleted and likely to become extinct (Stevens 1996).  Additionally, about 14 species of groupers are affected by overfishing since they never leave shallow waters, which makes them an easy target for fisherman (Stevens 1996).

Marine species are often moved from their native areas, to areas where they are not native (Shofield & Brown 2016). Non-native species sometimes become invasive by causing negative effects to their environment (Shofield & Brown 2016). Non-natives species that threaten the native species to the environment they are present in are referred to as invasive species. Invasive species often cause significant stress on ecosystems (Diller, Frazer, & Jacoby 2014). Invasive species have spread to 84% of marine ecosystems (Knowlton 2014). Lionfish are one example of an invasive species that is a major threat to other ocean species, as they eat the few fish that are left in the Caribbean and smother seaweeds in the Mediterranean (Knowlton 2014). Additionally, Lionfish potentially significantly reduce the numbers of other ocean species because they consume up to 4% of their body weight each day (Diller, Frazer & Jacoby 2014). One study showed that lionfish on experimental patch reefs in the Bahama’s decreased recruitment of reef fishes, which are a source of food for many other ocean species, by 80% (Diller, Frazer & Jacoby 2014). Additionally, lionfish cause reduced biodiversity and increased overgrowth of corals by algae, which makes popular dive destinations, which currently generate $2.1 billion U.S dollars per year,  less attractive (Diller, Frazer, & Jacoby). Another example of the detrimental effects of invasive species is the overwhelming of native seagrass beds in the Mediterranean by Caulerpa, an invasive alga (Knowlton, 2014).  Therefore, it is evident that invasive species, such as lionfish, alga, and others,  present a very big problem to endangered species and ocean ecosystems.