Ocean Acidification May Threaten Oysters, Clams and Mollusk Fisheries

Ocean acidification may be causing a host of issues for some coastal communities. Scientists have taken a closer look at the risks of ocean acidification and have found that the mollusk industry may be at long-term economic risk.

The Pacific Northwest has been the most frequently cited region with vulnerable shellfish populations. However, newly identified areas of risk from acidification range from Maine to the Chesapeake Bay to Louisiana's bayous. In fact, ocean acidification has already cost the oyster industry in the Pacific Northwest nearly $110 million and jeopardized about 3,200 jobs.

"This clearly illustrates the vulnerability of communities dependent on shellfish to ocean acidification," said George Waldbusser, one of the researchers, in a news release. "We are still finding ways to increase the adaptive capacity of these communities and industries to cope, and refining our understanding of various species' specific responses to acidification. Ultimately, however, without curbing carbon emissions, we will eventually run out of tools to address the short-term and we will be stuck with a much larger long-term problem."

In this latest study, the researchers found that the Pacific Northwest have a potent combination of risk factors. These include cold waters, upwelling currents that bring corrosive waters closer to the surface. There are also corrosive rivers and nutrient pollution from land runoff.

This isn't the only region that may suffer, though. New England has poorly buffered rivers that run into cold New England waters that are especially enriched with acidifying carbon dioxide. In addition, the Mid-Atlantic has an abundance of nitrogen pollution which exacerbates ocean acidification and the Gulf of Mexico has shellfish economies based solely on oysters, which gives this region fewer options for alternative mollusk fisheries.

The findings reveal that ocean acidification has the major potential to harm mollusk fisheries. Coastal communities in 15 states depend on the $1 billion shelled mollusk industry, so taking steps to combat ocean acidification is crucial.

The findings are published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

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