'Silent' crisis that threatens to wipe out $300 billion coastal industry
Scientists have warned of an environmental crisis threatening to destroy a $300billion global industry critical to coastal communities worldwide.
A new study revealed that ocean acidification has already crossed a global tipping point.
This occurs when the ocean absorbs excessive carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, making it more acidic and corrosive to marine organisms.
Since the Industrial Revolution, burning fossil fuels has sent massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the air, increasing the ocean's acidity.
Scientists revealed that oceans crossed a critical limit for acidification as early as 2000, with 60 percent of deeper waters now beyond the danger zone.
The study found that the damage has already led to the loss of 43 percent of coral reef habitat, 61 percent of sea butterfly habitat, and 13 percent of suitable environment for shellfish like oysters and mussels.
When the ocean becomes more acidic, it eats away at the building blocks these animals need to grow their shells.
This change could push the global seafood industry, worth multi billions toward collapse. The US, with an $11 billion seafood market, is the world's second biggest market and could face serious consequences.
'It is not just an environmental issue anymore,' said Professor Steve Widdicombe, director of science at Plymouth Marine Laboratory and a leading global voice on ocean acidification.
'We are gambling with biodiversity and with billions in economic value every day that action is delayed.'
Researchers say ocean acidification is undermining the survival of 'calcifying species' marine organisms that depend on calcium carbonate to form their shells and skeleton.
'Ocean acidification can severely affect marine organisms through its direct impact on physiology, growth, survival and reproduction,' researchers said in the study published in Global Change Biology.
Shellfish farming alone contributes billions annually, supporting over 600 million people in coastal communities.
Researchers said that by 2020, the ocean's water had already changed enough to go past the safe limit, scientists set to protect sea life from harm caused by too much acidity.
In other words, the ocean became too acidic for many marine animals to stay healthy.
That line was drawn at a 20 percent reduction in calcium carbonate compared to pre-industrial levels and US West Coast is among the worst affected.
But this study suggests that even 10 percent deviation from pre-industrial conditions is enough to push marine ecosystems into danger.
The maps highlight areas where conditions are just barely okay for corals, marked by a line called the 3.5 contour. Purple dots show where coral reefs are found. The maps compare four different times: (a) before big human impacts, (b) in 2020, (c) after a 10 percent drop from the old healthy level, and (d) after a 20 percent drop from the old healthy level.
The Pacific oyster, a key part of US seafood farming, struggles to survive when ocean water gets too acidic.
In the early 2010s, oyster hatcheries in the US Pacific Northwest almost shut down because the seawater became too acidic.
To fix this, hatcheries started using sensors to monitor the water and added chemicals to keep it safe for oysters.
However, many smaller or remote hatcheries often can not afford these fixes, and the same problem is now showing up along the Gulf and East coasts.
However, many coastal areas around the world still do not have the tools or government help to deal with this problem.
The damage is not limited to oysters. Tiny sea creatures called pteropods, a major food source for fish like salmon and mackerel, are already being hit hard by acidifying waters.
By 2020, more than half of their polar habitat was damaged, with marine life struggling to survive.
If they disappear, it could shake the entire ocean food chain. Coral reefs, though less common in US waters, are also at risk, putting coastal protection and young fish habitats in danger.
As the ocean condition worsen, the sector is impacting both livelihoods and economy of US seafood industry.
According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the US marine industry supported 2.3 million jobs and generated $321 billion in sales in 2022.
In addition to this, a report funded by the National Sea Grant Program found that US aquaculture, adds about $4 billion to the economy each year and supports over 22,000 employment.
In the Pacific Northwest, where commercial shellfish farms thrive, corrosive seawater has already crossed the danger threshold.
Despite growing evidence, the crisis remains largely unseen. 'There's no smoking gun,' said Professor Steve Widdicombe of Plymouth Marine Laboratory to The Guardians.
'It is tough to convince policymakers when the water looks fine from the beach.'
International goals exist, like the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 14 and the Global Biodiversity Framework, but few governments, including the US, have laid out aggressive national plans specifically targeting acidification.
'Ocean acidification is a crisis we cannot see,' said Professor Helen Findlay, the lead author of the study.
'But its fingerprints are all over our coastlines, hatcheries and ecosystems. And unless we act now, the losses will keep mounting.'
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