Ocean Acidification: Changing Tides, Heavy Consequences

When people think of New England, they think of two things: the American Revolution, and seafood.

The character of New England is forever tied to the ocean. The Hub boasts being one of America’s original port cities. From clam chowder to lobster, New Englanders have always enjoyed the benefits of a healthy, thriving marine economy.

But due to changes in the environment, those resources are increasingly threatened by a process dubbed by some scientists as the “evil twin of climate change”: ocean acidification.

Ocean acidification occurs when seawater pH drops below natural levels. When carbon dioxide, or CO2, is released into the air, the world’s oceans absorb nearly a quarter of it, particularly oceans in colder climates like New England’s. CO2 reacts with water molecules to form carbonic acid, resulting in a lower pH.

CO2 emissions have risen dramatically since the Industrial Revolution, primarily from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas for energy. In that time, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates that surface ocean waters have become about 30 percent more acidic.

By the year 2100, NOAA estimates that ocean acidity could rise by a whopping 150 percent; higher than it’s been in 20 million years.

Wildlife in New England is severely impacted by falling pH, the Boston Globe recently reported. Shellfish -- including clams, oysters, lobster and shrimp -- require a certain combination of elements in the water to calcify, or build their shells. Acidification disrupts the balance, preventing these animals from building strong shells, and causing the ones they do build to break down over time.

So what does this mean for the region's residents? As it turns out, quite a bit: the scientific journal “Nature” conducted a February study that identified 15 states in which coastal communities could face major economic losses from rising ocean acidity. Massachusetts and Maine both made the list.³

The Commonwealth takes in roughly $300 million annually from the shellfish industry alone, and local fishing economies up and down the New England shoreline depend heavily on that business. Recognizing these environmental and economic dangers, state lawmakers, including Representative Tim Madden of Nantucket, have proposed legislation that aims to solve -- or at least curtail -- the region’s acidification problem.

New England’s coasts are an unparalleled natural resource. From the early days of colonial settlement up to modern times, the ocean has defined the region’s spirit and given back in ways big and small. It’s up to us to return the favor.