Skip to content

Pollution

'Other CO2 problem' research shows that fish won't be OK

by Colin Ricketts 11 Dec 2011
'Other CO2 problem' research shows that fish won't be OK

Bigeye Trevally via Shutterstock

It's the 'other CO2 problem', global warming's little brother, and ocean acidification could be even more damaging than had previously been thought according to new research on how fish are affected. As the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere rises, more of it is dissolved into the sea, forming carbonic acid, making the sea more acidic.

While negative effects have been recorded for many simple marine creatures - coral reefs, shellfish, urchins and plankton for example - no research had shown that fish were damaged, until now.

Research published in Nature Climate Change by a team from Stony Brook University in New York dismisses the so-called 'fish are OK' theory.

According to the new research, the belief that fish were relatively unaffected by more acidic oceans ignored the effect of CO2 on fish larvae and even eggs.

Christopher Gobler and Hannes Baumann, both professors at the Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (SoMAS) studied how higher concentrations of CO2 impacted on the eggs of the inland silverside - a common river estuary fish.

Gobler and Baumann examined levels of CO2 concentration which are predicted for later this century. At the moment the level is 400 parts per cubic metre (ppm3), which is expected to rise to 600ppm3 by the middle of the century and 1,000ppm3 by the 2200.

They found a terrible toll. Eggs and larvae of the inland silverside were very sensitive to rises in CO2 levels and at the levels predicted for the end of the century, CO2 was killing 70% of the fish within a week of their hatching. Those larvae that did survive were significantly smaller than under current conditions.

"We knew from the study of other ocean animals, such as scallops and clams, that earliest life stages such as larvae are most sensitive to CO2 and thus targeted the same life stage during our investigation of fish," said Professor Gobler.

Brad Warren, Science Director of Sustainable Fisheries Partnerships warned of the possible damage to the fishing industry.

He said: "This study is a shot across the bow and shows that some important fish stocks may be eroded by high CO2 levels. And keep in mind, as estuarine fish, inland silversides are likely to be adapted to higher levels of CO2 than many fish found in the open ocean, where chemistry is much more stable. This suggests that many commercially harvested marine fish stocks may be vulnerable too. Pelagic spawners, such as albacore, bigeye, yellowfin, and bluefin tuna, whose larvae are not adapted to acidified waters, could be particularly vulnerable."

The researchers now intend to carry out more research across a range of fish species.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping