What's Happening To Our Oceans?
Algal blooms, sargassum, red tides, and dead fish washing ashore all point to the obvious sign that something is happening in our oceans.
Statistically, millions of marine animals die each year.
Our coral reefs, once so precious and resilient, are gradually dying off.
They serve as both a source of nutrients and a home for countless marine species. And science is showing that one of the causes behind this is ocean acidification.
When the pH levels in our oceans become unbalanced (meaning the water becomes more acidic), there is a domino effect. The main question is—what's causing our oceans' pH levels to become unbalanced? Well, carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions are one major contributor that is widely discussed.
Another is pesticides and agricultural runoff. When agricultural pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals are routinely washed into our waterways, they fuel excessive algae growth, also known as algal blooms. When these algae die, they consume oxygen and release carbon dioxide, which in turn increases ocean acidity.
Besides the water itself becoming polluted, marine life, especially fish—is also affected. Many fish rely on shelled invertebrates, such as pteropods (tiny sea snails) and clams, as a food source.
Because acidification weakens and gradually dissolves the shells of these calcifying organisms, fish populations face food shortages and nutritional changes. Over time, these disruptions ripple through the entire marine food chain, ultimately affecting the quality and availability of the seafood we consume.
EATING FISH INCLUDING WILD SALMON HAS BECOME A HEALTH RISK
FISH CONSUMPTION IS A MAJOR SOURCE OF TOXINS IN THE BODY
Ocean acidification is not just harming life beneath the surface—it is disrupting an entire ecosystem that both marine animals and humans depend on.
