Every day, oceans do us a huge favor by absorbing about a third of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by human activities. But as we burn more fossil fuels and clear forests, our oceans absorb more and become more acidic. The result is water that’s potentially lethal to a large swath of creatures that play a huge role in aquatic ecosystems, the Northwest economy, and our dinner plates.
But as oceans absorb carbon dioxide, they also become more acidic. And they become potentially lethal to a wide swath of sea creatures, from clams to corals to plankton that play a role in the diets of many things you might see at a local aquarium. Many of those species wind up on fishing boats and then dinner plates around the world.
http://www.sightline.org/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2012/02/OA-primer1.pdf
