Exposure of Mediterranean Countries to Ocean Acidification

• Published in: Water (Basel) Vol. 6; no. 6; pp. 1719 - 1744
• Main Authors: Hilmi, Nathalie, Allemand, Denis, Cinar, Mine, Cooley, Sarah, Hall-Spencer, Jason, Haraldsson, Gunnar, Hattam, Caroline, Jeffree, Ross, Orr, James, Rehdanz, Katrin, Reynaud, Stéphanie, Safa, Alain, Dupont, Sam
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 2014; MDPI
• Subjects: Acidification; ANTHROPOGENIC CO2; aquaculture; CLIMATE-CHANGE; Ecology; economic development; Economics and Business; Economics and Finance; Ekologi; Ekonomi och näringsliv; FISH; Fisheries; Humanities and Social Sciences; IMPACTS; MANAGEMENT; Marine; Mediterranean Sea; multidisciplinary study; ocean acidification; Ocean, Atmosphere; Organisms; Sciences of the Universe; SEA; VENTS; Water Resources; United Kingdom > UK; France; Monaco; United States > US; Mediterranean Sea; Germany; MED, Western Mediterranean; MED; ocean acidification; economic development; aquaculture; fisheries; Mediterranean Sea; multidisciplinary study
• ISSN: 2073-4441; 2073-4441
• DOI: 10.3390/w6061719

This study examines the potential effects of ocean acidification on countries and fisheries of the Mediterranean Sea. The implications for seafood security and supply are evaluated by examining the sensitivity of the Mediterranean to ocean acidification at chemical, biological, and macro-economic levels. The limited information available on impacts of ocean acidification on harvested (industrial, recreational, and artisanal fishing) and cultured species (aquaculture) prevents any biological impact assessment. However, it appears that non-developed nations around the Mediterranean, particularly those for which fisheries are increasing, yet rely heavily on artisanal fleets, are most greatly exposed to socioeconomic consequences from ocean acidification.