Ocean Has Become So Acidic it's Dissolving Oyster Shells (1 Viewer)

[Christo]

The Ocean Has Become So Acidic it's Dissolving Baby Oyster Shells

When we talk about the acidification of the oceans, we sometimes focus on the impact that it will have in the future. But for Taylor Shellfish Farms, a fifth-generation farm in Oregon that harvests oysters, the impact is already here. The ocean has become so acidic that baby oysters are actually dissolving in the water before they even have a chance to grow.

According to the latest National Climate Change Assessment, the ocean has become 30 percent more acidic than it was in pre-industrial times because the ocean absorbs about one-fourth of all carbon emissions. Much of the sea life in the ocean is struggling to adapt and clams and oysters are particularly having a difficult time. “Shellfish is very vulnerable when it’s first being created,” says Brittany Taylor, “and it’s the acidity in the water that makes it hard for them to form their shells.”

The Taylor family started farming oysters 100 years ago and the tradition has carried on generation after generation. But today their business has been threatened by the changing ocean. “The ocean is so acidic that it is dissolving the shells of our baby oysters,” says Diani Taylor, “it would be devastating to lose such a big part of our history.” Because acidification shows no signs of slowing, there is no telling how much worse the damage could become and what other impacts we could see in the future, but for Taylor Shellfish, the consequences are already here.

Read more: The Ocean Has Become So Acidic it's Dissolving Baby Oyster Shells | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

 

[Mr.Pack]

Is this George Bush's fault?

Never mind, dumb question, of course it is

 

[flapgreen]

Thanks Obama.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

We're still eating oysters here. I'd be more worried about oil spills.

 

[Captain Quinoa]

Meh. They'll evolve.

 

[comfortably numb]

i see a potential money maker...gonna load up on oysters. In about 2 years they should triple in price.

 

[jon_mx]

Yeah, oysters are tasty, but they are pretty nasty creatures. They are basically filters of the ocean's waste and contain all kinds of nasty stuff including Salmonella.

The low level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is a very recent phenomenom. The earth started out at about 20 times what we have today. Historically we are still at very low levels of atmospheric CO2. Higher levels will not be catastrophic, but it will change things. Something's for the good, something's for the worst.

 

[Christo]

Yeah, oysters are tasty, but they are pretty nasty creatures. They are basically filters of the ocean's waste and contain all kinds of nasty stuff including Salmonella.

The low level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is a very recent phenomenom. The earth started out at about 20 times what we have today. Historically we are still at very low levels of atmospheric CO2. Higher levels will not be catastrophic, but it will change things. Something's for the good, something's for the worst.

Wouldn't that make them pretty important?

 

[Limp Ditka]

Yeah, oysters are tasty, but they are pretty nasty creatures. They are basically filters of the ocean's waste and contain all kinds of nasty stuff including Salmonella.

The low level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is a very recent phenomenom. The earth started out at about 20 times what we have today. Historically we are still at very low levels of atmospheric CO2. Higher levels will not be catastrophic, but it will change things. Something's for the good, something's for the worst.

Wouldn't that make them pretty important?

Makes them ####ty at their job

 

[Chaos Commish]

Coming back from "functional extinction" Olympia Oysters thriving off Oregon coast (California and Washington too).

Oregon oyster farms rise.

Washington oyster company struggling to meet demand, hiring.

 

[Ben & Jerry's]

Looks like they fixed it this evening.

 

[Jayrod]

Yeah, I'm struggling to see how the ocean could have such a shift in pH be permanent.