When carbon dioxide mixes with seawater, carbonic acid results-acidification. this absorption can be catastrophic for marine life. The carbolic acid in the water dissolves calcium in corals; it eats away at the shells of crustaceans and crabs and hinders the growth of plankton and fish. Not only is it depleting wild lobster, crab, and mussel populations, but also oyster farms.  Some scientists call ocean acidification the "evil twin" of climate change.

Coral reefs are particularly harmed. They are the nurseries for thousands of ocean species, offering habitat, protection, and nourishment. Yet the coral reefs are bleaching and dying from acidification, warming waters, and pollution.

Without coral reefs, fish populations decline and food chains are disrupted. In addition, many islands and coasts will be overrun with waves, as the coral reefs are their breakers and shoreline protection. For the latest international information on ocean acidification, visit the ICC Working Group on Climate.