Britain’s salmon at risk from ocean acidification

By Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent 7:00AM GMT 03 Dec 2010

The species rely on tiny shellfish when they go out to sea and feed before returning to rivers like the Tay in Scotland or the Test in Hampshire. However these sea snails are in danger from ocean acidification. A United Nations report by the University of Plymouth has warned that fish higher up the food chain like salmon may suffer as a result. Since the industrial revolution oceans have become 30 per cent more acidic as the water absorbs carbon dioxide and the situation is set to get worse as greenhouse gases increase. The process, known as ‘ocean acidification’ makes it difficult for shellfish to build their calcium carbonate shells. Dr Carol Turley, a senior scientist at the UK Ocean Acidification Research Programme at Plymouth University, said studies already show shell fish are struggling to grow. She feared tiny molluscs, known as ptetropods or ‘sea butterflies’, that are important to the wider ecosystem, may reduce in number affecting a number of larger fish. “One could see a reduction in salmon,” she said. “Ocean acidification may have significant future impacts on catches of crabs, mussels and other shellfish; species dependent on coral reefs and ones such as salmon that feed on smaller, shell building organisms lower down the food chain know as ptetropods.” The report ‘Environmental Consequences of Ocean Acidification: A Threat to Food Security’ was released during the latest round of UN climate change talks in Cancun. Dr Turley said billions of people rely on fish like salmon to survive. …

Cancun climate summit: Britain’s salmon at risk from ocean acidification