In the “Silent City” by G.R. Mathews, a tale is told where the surface of our world has become too polluted and toxic, forcing humanity to flee beneath the waves. Society is rebuilt under the sea and the people adapt to ocean life. Many tales are built on the idea that we have the ability to flee underwater when the surface finally perishes. But the story is just a story because the ocean has started to perish as well.
Ocean acidification is the ongoing decrease in the oceans pH, making it more acidic. This is due to the ocean having to absorb excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere which mainly comes from large scale human activities. The acidification is an entire chemical shift that reduces carbonate ions, which are invaluable to marine organisms that need to build their shells and skeletons. The damage done to these vital species shakes the entire marine web, a pipeline to countless consequences.
Acidification isn’t killing just one species – it decimates entire systems. Entire coral reefs are turned to ghost towns which is causing a collapse in fish habitats. Without so many reefs we have a lower population of fish and reduced biodiversity. The plankton decline has destabilized food webs sending ripples through entire fisheries. Because of the behavioural effects on fish where they have had reduced abilities to detect predators, they have had a much higher mortality rate and serious population instability. This is systemic failure that quietly infects our oceans.
The harm doesn’t just end at our waters. The consequences of acidification are vast and reach directly into human lives. Global fisheries have begun to be severely destabilized as shell-forming organisms begin to weaken and coral reefs collapse. This threatens food security for millions who rely on the ocean for sustenance. Coastal economies face huge economic declines through a loss of tourism and fishing. The loss of coral reefs remove natural coastal barriers which increase vulnerability to storms and erosion. These impacts severely damage coastal and indigenous communities who have built their livelihood and culture upon the sea. There is no separation between the ocean’s health and human survival.
We imagine the sea as a refuge but after countless years of abuse we have rendered it as hopeless as our society. No matter how advanced our technology currently is, it cannot replace natural functioning ecosystems. While our world is made to adapt, it is still not fast enough to beat our relentless damage.
Leave a Reply