Ocean acidification is a big problem for the environment. It affects ocean life and fishing.

Here's how it works: When carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air gets absorbed by the oceans, it creates more carbonic acid. This makes the water more acidic, lowering the pH levels. Since the Industrial Revolution started, the pH of ocean water has dropped by about 0.1 units. This change means the ocean is now about 30% more acidic. If we keep producing carbon emissions at this rate, oceans could be 150% more acidic by the year 2100.

Effects on Ocean Life

1. Shell-Building Animals: Some ocean creatures need calcium carbonate to build their shells or skeletons. These include:

   • Corals: Coral reefs are in trouble. Research shows that we have lost about 50% of the world's coral reefs since the 1980s. The increased acidity makes it hard for corals to create their calcium carbonate structure, which is important for the reef.
   • Shellfish: For example, studies show that the baby oysters, called larvae, have a 70% death rate under future acidity conditions.

2. Food Chain Problems: The tiny plants in the ocean, called phytoplankton, are also being affected.

   • Phytoplankton: If these organisms decline, there will be less food for other fish and sea animals. This can upset the entire ocean food chain and hurt fishing industries.

Fishing Industry at Risk

The fishing industry is worth a lot of money, about $362 billion each year, and it supports more than 59 million jobs around the world. Acidification could put these jobs at risk:

• By 2050, experts believe we could see a drop of up to 30% in the amount of fish we catch. This will happen because the types of fish and other ocean life will change.
• This loss could mean about $2.2 billion less in fish production and processing.

In conclusion, ocean acidification is a serious threat to ocean life and fishing. It could harm biodiversity, disrupt food chains, and lead to significant economic problems.