NOAA: Ocean Acidification Threatens Alaskan Fisheries and Communities

Ocean acidification, as a result of carbon dioxide release into the air, could pose a risk to Alaska's valuable fisheries and communities, according to a recent NOAA-led study.

Ocean water becomes more acidic when it absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2) released by human sources, such as the burning of fossil fuels. Oceans typically soak up nearly a third of the CO2 released into the atmosphere.

Increased ocean acidification could harm important Alaska commercial and subsistence fisheries and communities that depend on them, according to the NOAA report published Tuesday in the online journal Progress in Oceanography.

What's more, this change in ocean chemistry could, and already has in some places, affect marine life - particularly the ability of shellfish, corals and small creatures in the early stages of the food chain to build skeletons or shells. Previous studies have shown that red king crab and tanner crab, two important Alaskan fisheries, grow more slowly and don't survive in more acidic waters.

Not to mention that the Alaskan coast is already more vulnerable to ocean acidification. Its colder waters absorb more CO2 and its unique ocean circulation patterns bring naturally acidic deep ocean waters to the surface.