Scientists have known for decades that soaring atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions are causing changes in ocean chemistry, threatening marine life and ecosystems.
In June 2025, a study found that ocean acidification has passed a safe threshold across large swathes of the world’s marine environment, not only near the sea surface, but also up to 200 meters (656 feet) deep. The effect is especially severe in polar regions.
Ocean acidification is an added stressor to marine life already facing pressure from multiple threats connected to climate change (including marine heatwaves and reduced oxygen levels in seawater), along with other direct human impacts including pollution, overfishing and deep-sea mining.
Carbon emissions need to be deeply slashed and ocean protections greatly enhanced to allow ecosystems time to adapt and one day recover, say experts.
Ocean health is moving into a danger zone, with rampant human-caused carbon dioxide emissions having already pushed ocean acidification levels beyond safe limits in large swaths of the marine environment, according to a recent study. The new findings underline the urgent need to ramp up protection of the world’s oceans, while simultaneously slashing CO2 emissions, say experts.
But from a scientific perspective, worsening ocean acidification is not an overly surprising finding, considering that carbon dioxide emissions remain high, says lead author Helen Findlay, a biological oceanographer at the Plymouth Marine Laboratory in the U.K.
Researchers have known for decades that humanity’s CO2 emissions are being absorbed by seawater, triggering chemical reactions that release hydrogen ions, in turn reducing the abundance of carbonate ions. This ocean acidification process — which has escalated in tandem with atmospheric emissions — has implications for a large number of ocean-dwelling calcifying species that rely on calcium carbonate for their shells, with harm to those species potentially reverberating throughout marine ecosystems.
Scientists from 45 countries are working together to harmonize the collection of scientific data on the ocean through a new IAEA technical cooperation project. (Photo: P. Bersuder/IAEA)
The IAEA supports countries to better understand the ocean by developing networks of marine experts, facilitating regional knowledge exchange and harmonizing analytical and field procedures.
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This new project, launched in 2024, harnesses nuclear science to gain a more comprehensive understanding of ocean health. The multifaceted project fosters evidence-based decision-making by building capacity in the sampling, analysis and interpretation of ocean acidification and ocean pollutants, including biotoxins, mercury, radioactive pollution, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and oil spills.
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The IAEA, through its Marine Environment Laboratories, ensures that countries have the knowledge and tools they need to generate valuable information about ocean health. Through a series of IAEA technical cooperation programme workshops and capacity building activities, experts from around the world have already begun discussing harmonizing data collection procedures and sampling strategies, so that a broad range of ocean data is comparable for analyses.
“We have seen the benefits of a collaborative and international approach to ocean monitoring. We must remember that the ocean is a shared natural resource, and data collected by one country or region can give others insight into emerging challenges. The new global IAEA technical cooperation project hopes to leverage this by scaling up the scope of the IAEA’s previous ocean monitoring efforts and facilitating more extensive international cooperation,” said Petra Salame, IAEA Programme Management Officer.
At the recent United Nations Ocean Conference, UN Secretary General António Guterres acknowledged an urgent need for action to “turn the tide” on ocean conservation. Although there is mounting concern over ocean health, a lack of accurate scientific data on ocean deterioration is preventing well-informed decision-making on ocean issues. With support from the IAEA’s research and development activities and its technical cooperation programme, countries around the world are filling this gap by building expertise in ocean monitoring. From tracking key indicators of ocean health – such as marine pollutants, harmful algal blooms, and ocean acidification – to researching blue carbon, new data is helping improve ecosystem management.
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Addressing Ocean Acidification
Using nuclear techniques, scientists in Colombia and Cuba have been able to gather key data on minimizing and addressing ocean acidification through the Regional Observatory on Ocean Acidification. This data has provided a valuable contribution to Sustainable Development Goal 14 (‘Life Below Water’) reporting. The Regional Observatory, established in 2020 with the support of the IAEA, is part of the REMARCO Network, which enables the collaboration of 18 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to address marine challenges using nuclear techniques.
A new satellite-based product can now map the ocean carbon sink at unprecedented resolution.
Although the oceanic sink for the human-induced carbon dioxide reduces global warming, there are significant biogeochemical consequences. This uptake leads to a reduction in seawater pH and alters the carbonate chemistry of the ocean. These changes in ocean chemistry, often collectively referred to as ocean acidification, impact marine organisms and alter marine ecosystems.
Although scientists have made significant progress in understanding how the global ocean carbon sink changes over seasons and decades, its short-term variability is still not well understood.
Most global datasets currently used to study the ocean carbon sink only provide monthly data and have a resolution of about 100 by 100 kilometers. This limited temporal and spatial resolution makes it difficult to capture the finer, more dynamic changes governing the ocean sink.
Nicolas Gruber, from the ETH Zurich University in Switzerland, said: “Increasing the resolution of these global datasets is challenging because the number of direct measurements of carbon dioxide at the ocean’s surface is rather sparse across all regions and times.
“To address this, we came up with a creative mix of machine learning methods to develop a new version of our OceanSODA-ETHZ product – a global, gridded dataset of surface ocean carbon dioxide and the ocean carbonate system, designed for studying the ocean carbon sink and ocean acidification over seasonal to decadal timescales.”
This new version maps the parameters of the ocean carbon system every eight days at a resolution of about 25 by 25 kilometers, more than 30 times finer than previous products. A critical part of the approach is the use of satellite data, which provides detailed information to interpolate the measurements in time and space.
This result has been visualized in the animation above, which shows differences in the exchange of carbon dioxide between the air and the sea over the period a period encompassing numerous hurricanes in the Atlantic ocean.
NOAA’s Ocean Carbon Acidification Data System (OCADS) now includes the 2025 version of the Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas (SOCAT) database. SOCATv2025 provides quality-controlled surface ocean carbon dioxide (fCO2; fugacity of CO2) measurements from 1957 to 2024 with 41.4 million observations that can serve as pulse checks on ocean carbon. The new version adds 451 new data sets and updates 44 data sets from ships, yachts, uncrewed surface vehicles, moorings and drifting platforms. SOCAT data are key for quantifying ocean CO2 uptake and ocean acidification, providing vital information for ocean policy and management.
OCADS is housed and maintained by the National Centers for Environmental information. NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program funds OCADS as a national repository and much of the SOCAT data collected in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone to help inform maritime activities, weather and more related to ocean carbon.
L’impact de l’acidification de la mer Méditerranée sur la biodiversité marine est un sujet d’actualité préoccupant… Mais, certains êtres vivants semblent tirer leur épingle du jeu face à cette acidification : les herbiers marins de posidonie ! Mais jusqu’à quand ? La classe des 5e 2 du collège Albert Camus vous invite à découvrir ce trésor de la méditerranée, peu connu du grand public à travers leur émission « Radio Camus 06 s’exprime ! » Crédits : Remerciement à M. Gattuso (IMEV) pour cette entrevue enrichissante, Mme Hansson (IAEA) pour la documentation, à Mme Dargent pour son écoute et ses conseils, aux professeurs et à la classe de 5e2 pour la mise en œuvre du projet mené finalisé et à toutes les personnes qui ont participé au podcast : Emma, Iloé, Sophie, Camille, Nichita, Francesco, Amy, Manon, Sacha, Carla, Nolhan, Hadrien, Mme Cali, M. Sanchez, Mme Heams-Nérac, M. Lombardo.
The ocean and the atmosphere are constantly seeking balance.
Gases like oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon move between the ocean’s surface and the atmosphere by billions of metric tons every year.
A higher concentration of one gas in the atmosphere leads to more of that gas being taken up by the ocean as the two try to reach a state of balance – or equilibrium. However higher concentrations of carbon, emitted by human activities predominantly through the burning of fossil fuels, have been observed in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution.
This has consequently led to an increase in the ocean’s accumulation of carbon globally. This increase in ocean carbon has caused a chain of chemical reactions driving one of the primary environmental threats to marine ecosystems, fisheries and coastal communities – ocean acidification.
Carbon dioxide absorbed at the ocean’s surface binds with water molecules to produce an acid known as carbonic acid (H2CO3), which dissociates into bicarbonate ions (HCO3–) and a free-floating hydrogen ion (H+).
A rise in hydrogen ions is what changes the pH of any liquid, lowering the pH and making it more acidic.
Ocean water is turning ever so slightly more acidic, and that small shift has now pushed the chemistry of the sea past a point that scientists once marked as the global “do not cross” line.
A new assessment shows that by 2020 the average concentration of calcium carbonate, a building block for shells and reefs, had fallen more than 20 percent from pre‑industrial levels in many regions.
This results in a thinning of nature’s protective shield for corals, oysters, other mollusks, and countless plankton.
“Ocean acidification isn’t just an environmental crisis, it’s a ticking timebomb for marine ecosystems and coastal economies,” said Professor Steve Widdicombe of Plymouth Marine Laboratory, after reviewing the study.
How carbon drives ocean acidity
One extra molecule of carbon dioxide in the air means another will slip into the sea, combine with water, and release a hydrogen ion.
Until now, ocean acidification has not been deemed to have crossed its ‘planetary boundary’, but a major new study led by the UK’s Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the US-based NOAA – also launched this week – found the safety limit was reached five years ago.
Marking a significant milestone in Indigenous-led environmental stewardship, the Makah Tribe of Noah Bay in Washington has detailed the launch of their Ocean Acidification Action Plan during the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France this week.
The announcement was made during a special side event hosted by the International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification in recognition of the gathering political momentum surrounding action on ocean acidification.
An alarming report was issued this week to coincide with the UN Ocean Conference in which scientists warned that ocean acidification was a ‘ticking time bomb’ and far worse than first feared.
Until now, ocean acidification has not been deemed to have crossed its ‘planetary boundary’, but a major new study led by the UK’s Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the US-based NOAA has found this safety limit was reached five years ago.
It’s a crisis that is contributing to the pressures being faced by coral reef ecosystems, the loss of habitats, and a threat to the survival for shell-building marine creatures by reducing the availability of calcium carbonate – a crucial building block that many of these marine organisms need to form shells and skeletons.
For Millennia, the Makah People’s culture, well-being, and economy have been intrinsically linked to the ocean’s bounty, with fish, shellfish, and other marine resources playing a role in food security, livelihoods, and cultural practices and traditions.
But today, many of the marine species on which the Makah tribe’s livelihood and traditions depend are at risk from ocean acidification.
It occurs when the ocean absorbs excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, setting off chemical reactions that acidifies seawater. This chemical alteration threatens marine organisms that rely on carbonate-based shells and skeletons, creating cascading effects that can knock entire marine ecosystems out of balance.
The Makah tribe is located in a region that was the first in the world to observe the impacts of changing ocean chemistry on traditional foods, including shellfish. Their Action Plan is a decisive step towards addressing this critical issue with Indigenous perspectives and priorities, combined with scientific research.
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While here at the UN Ocean Conference, Makah Tribe Natural Resource Policy lead, Mr Anthony Bitegeko was joined by the Portuguese Secretary of State of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Salvador Malheiro as well as Ms Mette Westergaard Bech, team leader on Ocean Acidification, Ministry of Environment and Gender Equality for Denmark to release the Ocean Acidification Action Plans.
They join countries such as Greece, Mexico, Fiji, Palau, Canada, and the UK in creating an action plan.
Key components of the action plan include integrating ocean acidification across mainstream climate, ocean, and coastal management plans; establishing cross-sector partnerships to ensure regional ocean acidification science is being applied to local decision making; developing educational initiatives; and advocating for policy changes at local, state, and federal levels.
“It’s clear that governments can no longer afford to overlook acidification in mainstream policy agendas,” said Ocean Acidification Alliance execrative director, Jessie Turner.
“That’s why we are so proud and encouraged by members of the National Ocean Acidification Action Planning Leadership Circle as they do the hard work to ensure that action on ocean acidification and climate change is a critical part of domestic and multilateral agendas.”
The Makah Tribe’s story is just one of many, with coastal communities around the world already concerned about the impact of ocean acidification.
Professor Steve Widdicombe, co-chair of the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network and the co-focal point for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 14 target 3 – aiming to minimise and address the impacts of ocean acidification.
After a week of deliberation and discussion, the United Nations Ocean Conference today by consensus adopted a political declaration titled “Our ocean, our future: united for urgent action”, stressing that the ocean plays an essential role in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.
“The ocean is fundamental to life on our planet and to our future, and we remain deeply alarmed by the global emergency it faces”, the Conference’s outcome document (A/CONF.230/2025/L.1) said, adding also: “Action is not advancing at the speed or scale required to meet Goal 14 and realize the 2030 Agenda [for Sustainable Development]”.
The declaration, also known as the “Nice Ocean Action Plan”, expressed deep concern that the ability of the ocean and its ecosystems to act as a climate regulator and to support adaptation has been “weakened”.
Underlining the importance of interlinkages between the ocean, climate and biodiversity, the declaration called for enhanced global action to minimize the impact of climate change and ocean acidification. It emphasized the particular importance of implementing various UN agreements and frameworks, recognizing that it would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change and help to ensure the health, sustainable use and resilience of the ocean.
Further emphasizing the need to adapt to the “unavoidable effects” of climate change, the declaration affirmed the importance of the full and effective implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Protocols, as well as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
The Solomon Islands, consisting of more than 900 islands, are already suffering from the effects of climate change. The country faces rising sea levels (projected to increase by up to 89 cm by 2090 under high-emission scenarios) along with intensifying storms and coastal erosion. Between 1999 and 2018, the Solomon Islands ranked as the 65th most affected country by extreme weather events.
In addition to these threats, there is a hidden danger: the ocean is slowly becoming more acidic. This puts coral reefs and marine ecosystems at risk, vital for the local economy and providing food. Recent global models estimate that the pH in the southwest Pacific has decreased by 0.06 since preindustrial times. Leisz’s (2009) projections showed that by 2040, ocean acidification will begin to impact the areas around the Solomon Islands.
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In response to these growing threats, efforts are intensifying in the country to equip local scientists and institutions with the tools they need to monitor and adapt to ocean acidification. A recent five-day training held at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) in Honiara marked a milestone in this journey.
Delivered by the Pacific Community, in partnership with The Ocean Foundation, the training brought together ocean experts from government, agencies and SINU. The training was led by Kim Currie and Miriama Vuiyasawa, experts in Ocean acidification at the Pacific Islands Ocean Acidification Centre (PIOAC), which SPC hosts.
The workshop aimed to improve participants’ skills and provide them with the latest tools to support ocean acidification research. They received practical training on how to use the “Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network in a Box kit,” a key toolkit that helps researchers and coastal communities collect and analyse ocean water samples for pH and total alkalinity, and to determine aragonite saturation.
With the United States withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, there is a lot of uncertainty about what U.S. climate diplomacy will look like under the current administration. But despite challenges at the national level, many state governments are poised to continue making progress on global climate action. This new dynamic is already playing out in response to ocean acidification. Daniel and Alison sat down with Jessie Turner, executive director of the International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification (OA Alliance), to explore the landscape—or seascape—of subnational climate diplomacy.
Daily average atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels have exceeded 430ppm for the first time since records began, and likely for the first time in at least 3 million years, “raising a red flag that today’s fossil fuel emissions are pushing the climate into greater and more deadly extremes” according to the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI), a network of senior policy experts and researchers working with governments and organizations to preserve as much of the Earth’s cryosphere (the frozen parts of the Earth system) as possible.
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The milestone is particularly concerning for polar and temperate ocean regions where marine life is already experiencing the detrimental effects of changing ocean chemistry. Approximately 25% of carbon emissions are absorbed by the Ocean, leading to increasing acidification as CO2 dissolves in seawater to form carbonic acid. This chemical change makes it increasingly difficult for shell-building marine organisms to build and maintain their calcium carbonate structures, threatening the foundation of marine food webs.
“The news that the 430ppm CO2 concentration in the atmosphere has been reached is extremely disappointing and worrying,” said PML’s Professor Helen Findlay, who is a science expert member of the ICCI High Urgency Group.
“We’re still emitting an alarming amount of CO2, given the climate crises, and this should be a stark reminder to the world that we need to get on track with emissions reductions and the energy transition. A quarter of that carbon is going into our oceans and continuing to cause acidification, as we showed in our recent report on Ocean Acidification status around the UK and Ireland.”
“Acidification will take thousands of years to recover from, so the more CO2 going in, the more we are committing to another impact on our ocean’s health.”
The Sofar buoy at the surface measures wave energy, wind speed, sea surface temperature, and pressure. Below the surface, integrated sensors measure pH and seafloor temperature in near-real time – actively monitoring ocean acidification on crucial reefs.
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The global impacts of ocean acidification are well-known. But a decade-long study led by scientists at AOML revealed last year that there are spatial gradients in how OA progresses across the Florida Keys, and some sites in the Upper Keys may act as refugia able to mitigate a decrease in pH – potentially due to the higher abundance of seagrass beds and other benthic communities.
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With these Sofar buoys and a newly-developed online application, scientists with AOML’s Coral Program are now actively seeing how conditions fluctuate and monitoring instrument functionality in real-time at four of the seven Mission: Iconic Reefs: Carysfort, Horseshoe, Cheeca Rocks and Sombrero Reefs in real-time.
However, the true advantage that set the Sofar “Spotter” buoy for the team came with their ability to customly integrate an advanced sensor monitoring changes in pH across these reefs.
While probes and pH electrodes, are often strapped to buoys and other deployable instrumentation in the marine environment. These sensors may not be of sufficient quality to monitor the gradual progression of OA and over time they degrade, leading to drifting data that can compromise a monitoring program Scientists with AOML’s Coral Program have taken a different approach.
The Sofar Spotter buoy floats at the surface monitoring ocean conditions with a protected data cable running to the seabed. The bristlemouth development kit (center) receives pH and temperature data from the SAMI-pH sensor (bottom left).
A Resolution on Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia was adopted by the Ocean Protection Council at its March 3, 2025 Council meeting to elevate and communicate the state’s commitment to addressing ocean acidification and hypoxia (OAH). The actions within this Resolution reflect and build upon ongoing efforts to understand and mitigate OAH, given the potential for OAH to cause large or irreversible effects on California’s coast and ocean.
Over the past decade, OPC made significant investments to advance understanding of OAH off California’s coast, consistent with the West Coast OAH Science Panel Major Findings, Recommendations, and Actions and California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This includes the development of a coupled physical-biogeochemical model for the West Coast to help managers better predict and understand the impacts of OAH in California. The model also assesses the extent to which local nutrient levels exacerbate acidified and hypoxic ocean conditions, leading to waters that are too acidic or lack sufficient oxygen to support vulnerable marine life. Recent model results have shown that in the Southern California Bight, land-based nutrient inputs are contributing to OAH and impacting the health of California’s marine environment, with implications for ecologically and economically important marine species. OPC continues to pursue additional questions to better understand these impacts, advance monitoring of OAH off California’s coast, and expand the state’s understanding of OAH along the entire coast of California.
Atlantic surfclams support an important commercial fishery in the Northeast United States. Landings were valued at nearly $41.7 million in 2022. They also improve water quality by removing excess nutrients from the water when they filter and consume plankton. Our research aims to understand how surfclams respond to changes in their environment.
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NOAA Milford Lab scientists built a model that projects Atlantic surfclam growth based on water temperature and the partial pressure of carbon dioxide. This is a commonly used metric of ocean acidification. This model indicates that ocean acidification will decrease surfclam growth and reproduction by the year 2100, under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s high carbon dioxide emission scenario.
Now we are studying surfclam populations in their natural habitat to see how well real-world observations match these model predictions. We will use data collected in the field to make our growth model for surfclams more accurate.
Research Chemist Matt Poach collecting surfclams from a clam dredge boat in Shinnecock Inlet, Long Island, New York. Behind, crewmembers of the F/V Susan H shovel clams from the dredge to a safe zone for the scientists to collect them. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Katyanne Shoemaker
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Research Questions
Does temperature or carbonate chemistry of either the seawater or the water within the sediment affect the growth of surfclams?
Do differences between the subspecies affect the relationship between environmental conditions and growth?
How well do our lab-based growth models predict surfclam growth rates in the field based on the environmental conditions of their habitat?
The negative impacts of ocean acidification have become a severe threat to our global seafood supply and aquatic ecosystems more than ever. Increasing carbon emissions are causing our oceans to become record-breaking acidic, significantly disrupting their natural chemical balance and harming wildlife habitats.
From contaminated marine species to decreasing seafood supply and worldwide environmental hazards, more must be done to combat the consequences of ocean acidification before the damage becomes irreversible if left unaddressed.
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Decreased Global Seafood Supply From Contaminated Marine Species
One of the most critical effects of ocean acidification is the threat to our global seafood supply. In addition to over-absorbing rising CO2 levels from burning fossil fuels, our oceans absorb pollutants from these related human actions. As a result, it contaminates the marine species we consume, like lobsters, shrimp, and minerals.
If sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels aren’t implemented to combat these negative ocean acidification effects, our seafood supply will decrease worldwide.
Additionally, this limited availability of seafood will increase consumer prices due to production and harvest challenges from this contamination.
Ocean Acidification Monitoring & Water Filtration System Investments
Commercial fisheries and aquaculture farms must invest in marine monitoring and water filtration technologies to combat the effects of ocean acidification.
Continuously monitoring oceans measures their acidification levels and allows staff to modify seawater intake based on the real-time pH accurately. It also verifies when the water quality is safe enough to farm fish and aquatic species.
Water filtration systems help land-based seafood production facilities reduce the carbon levels in their water tanks to ensure ethical animal welfare and food safety standards. These technological investments are crucial to improving the implementation and management of sustainable commercial seafood practices.
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Nearshore Aquaculture Farm Relocations to Land-Based & Offshore Sites
Relocating nearshore aquaculture farms offshore or to land-based operations reduces ocean acidification pressures. Because nearshore and coastline areas have minimal water flow and lower seafloor depth, aquaculture by-products like fish waste, uneaten fish feed, and water treatment chemicals can easily accumulate and release CO2. It can also trigger toxic algal blooms, which are among the effects of ocean acidification.
While it’s not easy or cheap to move nearshore aquaculture farms, especially large-scale facilities, they can save on costs by relocating to existing land-based infrastructures. Additionally, aquaculture farms can apply for government-funded grants and low-interest loans for financial assistance.
The Ocean Acidification (OA) Workshop for the for the Western Indian Ocean was successfully organized in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on 27 January 2025. The review meeting of the proposed Ocean Acidification Action Plan by the Nairobi Convention was supported by the Nairobi Convention component in the ACP MEA Phase 3 Programme. The technical meeting will lead to a validation and endorsement of the regional ocean acidification action plan by the contracting Member States to the Nairobi Convention.
Technical experts, government officials, and OA stakeholders amplified the greater need for stronger regional collaboration to address the impacts of emerging environmental and economic challenges posed by ocean acidification. The OA review workshop addressed local drivers, and the significant impacts of OA on fishery resources amongst ocean dependent coastal livelihoods.
Ocean Acidification workshop in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The OA action plan highlighted the region’s ocean acidification monitoring data and existing data gaps, notable trends that are enhancing ocean acidification, and the necessity for regional, national, and community advocacy. Participants called for the urgent need to integrate OA into climate change policies, strategies, into nationally determined contributions, and to enhance measures to mitigate ocean acidification.
IAEA scientist Francois Oberhaensli showcases aquabenches, which can recreate various aquatic environments, at the IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories. (Photo: L. Hansson/IAEA)
In November of last year, the second Winter School on Ocean Acidification and Multiple Stressors held at the IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories in Monaco provided early-career scientists with new tools and knowledge to address challenges to sustainable ocean health. By equipping a new generation of researchers with these skills, the Winter School is paving the way for more effective management and preservation of marine ecosystems in the face of global challenges, impacting communities worldwide that depend on marine resources.
As human activities intensify, coastal and marine ecosystems face mounting pressures, from overfishing and pollution to climate change and ocean acidification. The combined effects of these “stressors” often far exceed their individual impacts, threatening biodiversity and livelihoods worldwide. Yet, research on how these drivers combine to affect marine life is complex, and remains limited, with many studies often lacking robust design or misusing key concepts. Understanding how these stressors interact is crucial for predicting their impacts on marine ecosystems and developing strategies to mitigate these effects, particularly in regions heavily dependent on marine resources.
Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) Director of Science, Professor Steve Widdicombe, is participating in the United Nations’ High-Level Retreat on ‘Investing in Ocean Solutions’, taking place this week (January 14 – 15) in Incheon, Republic of Korea. The retreat serves as a crucial preparatory meeting for the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France, later this year and is focused on accelerating progress toward sustainable ocean management and conservation.
As Co-Chair of the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON) and focal point for ocean acidification under the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Under Water, Professor Widdicombe is discussing progress on voluntary commitments related to ocean acidification.
The reduction in the pH of the Ocean, which occurs when seawater absorbs increasing amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. Target 14.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals specifically calls for minimising and addressing the impacts of ocean acidification through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels.
The NOAA Ocean Acidification Program (OAP) is pleased to announce the FY24 Education Mini-grant Program awards. The seven projects selected for this competitive grant opportunity will deliver ocean and coastal acidification education tools and programs in underserved and/or Indigenous communities or Tribes. The awarded projects are led by Tribal members, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and public organizations. The work will occur across the nation in American Samoa, the U.S. West Coast, Alabama, and North Carolina, filling some gaps in ocean acidification education and outreach and reaching new communities.
Ocean and coastal acidification are emerging issues that have far reaching impacts on ocean health and long-term sustainability of ecosystems and people. It is critical that educators have access to the latest science and tools on these topics and are able to effectively share the science of ocean and coastal acidification, potential impacts and positive actions to diverse audiences in accessible ways.
Each project will address at least one of three goals laid out in the NOAA Ocean Acidification Education Implementation Plan. The proposed work will engage students, particularly from underserved and/or Indigenous communities or Tribes. This funding aims to increase ocean acidification awareness and action, and foster interest in career pathways in NOAA mission disciplines.
