The effect of warming on life in the sea

Seawater absorbs more and more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The carbon dioxide causes the acidity in the water to rise. Today the sea is about 30% more acidic than it was before the industrial age. The increase in acidity makes the water more corrosive, a situation that threatens a wide variety of molluscs that find it difficult to produce the shell

On the sidelines of the conference in Marrakesh where we discussed the implementation of measures to stop global warming, the participants were presented with data on the damage to the marine environmental system, which affects the fishing industry in general and the cultivation of seafood in the entire world. This damage is due to the warming and at the same time the acidity of the water rises and which growers around the world are looking for ways to gift.

About two years ago oyster farms in the USA were damaged when most of the young oysters died. At first, the breeders suspected that the cause was a virus, but it turned out that the real cause is much more worrying and threatening - an increase in the acidity of the seawater that is pumped into the breeding tanks.
Seawater absorbs more and more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The carbon dioxide causes the acidity in the water to rise. Today the sea is about 30% more acidic than it was before the industrial age. The increase in acidity makes the water more corrosive, a situation that threatens a wide variety of shellfish that find it difficult to produce the shell.

Ocean water absorbs heat which causes coral reefs to die. The heat "pushes" fish species to look for less warm areas, and thus traditional fishing areas are emptied. Because of the warming there is less oxygen in the water, the combination of the warming of the water, the high acidity and the lack of oxygen presents the oceanic fauna (and flora) with immediate challenges and dangers that cause enormous damage worldwide.

The damage is significant and severe for both poor and rich (human) populations. "Small" fishermen are unable to satisfy their needs. Conservationists who see how the fish "move" out of conservation areas, coastal countries and islands where the fear for the fate of industries related to fishing and tourism has grown to the point of economic collapse.

The changes happen too fast for the organisms and the environmental system to adapt. The damage is so severe that researchers estimate that an increase of one and a half degrees by the end of the century will result in the loss of 90% of the coral reefs and as a result serious damage that will exceed the tolerable limit for the entire marine system.

It is clear that the safe and correct way to prevent harm is to act quickly to stop the emission of pollutants that cause warming, but the global change in the direction of using clean energy is happening slowly, too slowly than what is right and proper should happen. Fish populations in the world that do not "learn" and do not adapt to changes will be in danger of extinction,

There are places where there are attempts to teach breeders to adapt more quickly. For example, in those oyster farms in the USA, the acidity level of the water that is pumped into the breeding tanks is monitored and when the level rises (due to the rise of "sour" water to the upper layer of water) they "pull" water from various other depths (less so). Some growers have moved their farms to less acidic areas.

There are also attempts to help small fishing populations by directing the fishermen to areas rich in fish with the help of satellites that will monitor the oxygen level and temperature in the water. Obviously this is a temporary method that gives a temporary solution since at the current rate the oceans are becoming more and more hostile to fish and other life forms.
Populations whose existence is supported by dying coral reefs will move to "carbon farming" by growing algae that extract carbon from the water. From the algae it will also be possible to produce food, medicines and fertilizers that will be an income that will replace the fisherman, and the growers will also benefit from "carbon credits".

In addition to the information acquired about the effect of warming, it is necessary to find immediate and long-term solutions. Populations living on two-thirds of Africa's coasts are already feeling the decline in the amount of fish and not only because of competition from industrial fishing. In other areas the damage is severe due to the movement of schools of cod fish to the north in search of cold water, young pinnipeds and other crustaceans moving from the coast of England to the north.
Science shows that the changes are already happening and are much more common and common than meets the eye.
The scientists know how to prevent or at least moderate the changes, will the policy makers and the way be able to respond and implement the necessary?