Dissolving Shells, Destroying Lives
"Our farm is what has kept this family together... it's our glue... it would be devastating to lose that, such a big part of our history."
- Diani Taylor, "Oyster farmers and ocean acidification"
- Diani Taylor, "Oyster farmers and ocean acidification"
Ocean acidification has had a tremendous impact on shellfish populations around the world. The drastic environmental changes prevent shellfish from properly building their shells and cause shellfish larvae to die; this, in turn, affects many individuals, such as shellfish farmers, whose livelihoods depend on these shellfish.
The effects of ocean acidification have been particularly detrimental for oyster farmers working in Taylor Shellfish Farms in Washington; in 2008, the oyster hatchery production there was 60% below average, and in 2009, it was 80% below average (Duchene). This does not only put many individuals’ livelihoods at risk; it also makes many people risk losing their businesses that they and their families might have run for tens or even hundreds of years. |
Shellfish larvae, especially oyster larvae, are particularly vulnerable to the effects of ocean acidification.
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This video illustrates the struggles that oyster farmers at Taylor Shellfish Farms are facing due to ocean acidification.
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