Ocean Acidification

“The acidification of the ocean today is bigger and faster than anything geologists can find in the fossil record over the past 65 million years” (Carl Zimmer). This is just an illustration regarding the tales of environmental degradation from carbon dioxide pollution in the ocean. The phenomenon of ocean acidification is imperative to understand; the reduction of essential pH levels over a protracted period of time is extremely harmful. In other words, ocean acidification can be measured by pH units, but for humans, it will be more impacting to measure in dollar signs. The socioeconomic byproduct of ocean acidification affects the way we feed ourselves, tourism revenue, commercial/ recreational fishing, and other potential losses. Ocean acidification
The shellfish and oysters we consume are already being negatively impacted and their survival is vital to us. Many oyster hatcheries and farmers along with shellfish farms have begun to see changes in developmental states and problems in survival rates. People do not realize that even though they seem small, they play a significant part to our society. Hundreds of millions of people rely fully on reefs and their inhabitants but decreasing pH levels are a major threat. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the first-sale value of ocean fisheries worldwide was more than $91 billion; aquaculture of marine organisms generated another $79 billion. These statistics depend on the location, ocean acidification isn't uniform, meaning that the effects diversify. Many species of fish, including commercially caught fish, use mollusks as their prime source of energy. With the slow extinction of shelled organisms, the economy provided by the ocean ecosystem will be immediately impacted; costing more than $1 trillion annually by
Educating audiences is crucial to improve the general public's understanding and awareness of ocean acidification, the biological responses, socioeconomic impacts, and how to adapt. There are countless organizations and programs designed to share this knowledge including various conferences and workshops. The NOAA' s Ocean Acidification Program (OAP) is one of the largest outreaches with a goal of ameliorating the understanding of ocean chemistry and its ramifications. In conclusion the effects of ocean acidification have unimaginable consequences; compromising the survival concerning hundreds of vital species, hurting our pocketbooks, shutting down fisheries and hatcheries, overall diminishing the livelihood for thousands. There are ways to help lower the amount of emissions, steps we all should take to curtail our carbon footprint. If we don't that the necessary steps needed to stop this phenomenon, we will end up in a world no one wants to live