Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a major greenhouse gas that plays an essential role in Earth’s climate system. Oceans help climate stability by absorbing about 30% of the anthropogenic CO₂ emissions. However, this process leads to ocean acidification (OA) and reduces the availability of carbonate ions, which are necessary for organisms that build shells and skeletons, such as corals, mollusks, and certain plankton. Since the Industrial Revolution, ocean pH has dropped by approximately 0.1 units, a significant shift that threatens marine ecosystems. OA affects marine organisms in multiple ways. Calcifying species struggle to form shells, leading to reduced survival and disrupted food webs. Coral reefs, often called the “rainforests of the sea” due to their exceptional biodiversity, are particularly vulnerable, and their decline results in biodiversity and habitat loss. Phytoplankton, the foundation of the marine food web and the ocean’s biological carbon pump, also respond in mixed ways; some benefit from higher CO₂, while others are negatively affected, reducing ocean productivity and carbon cycling. OA weakens the ocean’s biological carbon pump, reducing long-term carbon storage in the deep sea. It also contributes to harmful algal blooms, which can contaminate seafood and pose human health risks. Economically, OA threatens global seafood production, especially shellfish and crustaceans, jeopardizing food security and coastal livelihoods. This paper explores the biological, ecological, and economic impacts of OA and discusses mitigation strategies such as reducing CO₂ emissions, protecting blue carbon ecosystems, controlling coastal pollution, and supporting adaptive aquaculture. Addressing OA is essential to protect marine biodiversity, sustain seafood resources, and maintain climate stability.
Zaman M. S., Sizemore R. C. & Sanchez S. J, in press. Ocean acidification: impacts on marine ecosystems and deep-sea carbon sequestration. Journal of Environmental Studies and Health Research. Article.
