Ocean Acidification

Key insights

Policymakers and researchers can better understand, mitigate, and adapt to the impact of ocean acidification on food security, ensuring a more sustainable future for blue foods and the communities that depend on them if they:

1. Ensure baseline measurements of acidification are taken across different ocean basins.
2. Research the impact of ocean acidification on fisheries, shellfish, coral and plankton and priortize seafood
   species of local importance.
3. Explore knowledge gaps in ocean acidification science and research through a food security lens.
4. Align and integrate ocean acidification and food security research with regional and national policy objectives.
5. Leverage international frameworks to direct research, policy and financing support to more adequately assist
   nations in prolonged responses to the impacts of ocean acidification on food security

Key takeaways:

By implementing these recommendations, policymakers and researchers can better understand, mitigate, and adapt to the impact of ocean acidification on food security, ensuring a more sustainable future for blue foods and the communities that depend on them:

• Ensure baseline measurements of acidification are taken across different ocean basins.

• Research the impact of ocean acidification on fisheries, shellfish, coral and plankton and prioritize seafood species of local importance.
  
• Explore knowledge gaps in ocean acidification science and research through a food security lens.
  
• Align and integrate ocean acidification and food security research with regional and national policy objectives.
  
• Leverage international frameworks to direct research, policy and financing support to more adequately assist nations in prolonged responses to the impacts of ocean acidification on food security.

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Policy brief: Ocean acidification & food security. Melbourne Centre for Law and the Environment, June 2026. Policy brief.