Experts predict a 90 percent depletion of all wild seafood species by the year 2050, according to a study published in the Nov. 3 issue of Science magazine. But researchers also argued that by taking action now, that projection could still be reversed.

The study, conducted by a collaborative team brought together by the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis in Santa Barbara, found that human abuse of marine ecosystems is contributing to an accelerating trend in marine life “collapse” — defined as a 90 percent decrease in marine diversity from the current baseline.

“Fishery stocks are collapsing all over the world and collapsing faster in low diversity populations,” said Biological Science Prof. Stephen Palumbi, who is also a researcher at Stanford’s Hopkins Marine Institute. He and Fiorenza Micheli, assistant professor of Biological Sciences, were two of the 14 coauthors of the study.

The study cited polluted bays exacerbated by over-fishing and global warming as crucial factors in the marine life collapse.

While the current projections appear devastating, researchers found that marine reserves and fishery closures increased the diversity of target and non-target species by an average of 23 percent in protected areas — indicating that the study’s grim predictions could be alleviated by eco-friendly policies.

“Policies should be directed to maintaining marine biological diversity at natural levels,” Palumbi said. “But we must be willing to spend a little more to support fisherman out there fishing sustainably.”

While these sustainable practices raise prices for consumers, the alternative may leave seafood lovers a few years from now hard-pressed to find their favorite dish on a menu.

Palumbi recommended supporting sustainable fishers by consulting Monterey Bay Aquarium’s “Sea Food Watch” guide to find seafood currently farmed with these processes. The pocket-size guides, printable from the aquarium Web site, help consumers make eco-friendly choices when shopping or dining out.

“We go around looking for the lowest bid on seafood,” Palumbi said, “but if we hope to have it in the future, we must reward sustainable fishing practices.”