Acidic oceans a potential threat to ocean fish farms

USA: Carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere ends up in the world's oceans making them increasingly acidic. Though not scientifically shown yet, the development could have major negative impact on the global fish farming industry.

Tor-Eddie Fossbakk

USA: Carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere ends up in the world's oceans making them increasingly acidic. Though not scientifically shown yet, the development could have major negative impact on the global fish farming industry.

A recent study from the University of Chicago and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that the acidity in the world's oceans is increasing at a rate that is ten times higher than earlier estimates. This study is gaining growing public interest in the United States.

The study points to already common knowledge, that the increasing acidification of the oceans is caused by the same as what is driving global warming, namely ever increasing carbon dioxide emissions.

The current study is based on thousands of measurements collected from an area around Tatoosh Island, off the coast of Washington state, in the Pacific Ocean.

Globally, the immediate changes will probably be found in Arctic plankton. This plankton is the basis for the entire food web in the oceans. Further, coral and other species will be affected, directly or indirectly. The scientists who worked on Tatoosh Island expect that 60-70 percent of the island's mussels could disappear in the coming decades.

The researchers are not quite sure why the change in acidity is so rapid on this particular island. Though probably temporary, one consolation may be that ocean chemistry is not changing at the same speed throughout the globe. There are definite hotspots. Thus far there are no other studies monitoring ocean acidity along the Pacific coast of the United States so scientists can't say anything about how widespread the problem is.

In an interview with National Public Radio an Oregon State University marine scientist said that even if the world could shut off all carbon dioxide emissions, oceans will still soak up carbon dioxide from the air and become more acidic. Other ways has to be found to help marine organisms survive this global threat.