[LINK] "Ocean acidification behind rise in price of B.C. shellfish"

[rfmcdonald]

CBC notes that, in British Columbia, ocean acidification caused by increased carbon dioxide levels is already starting to harm shellfish.

Scallops and oysters have long been among B.C.'s signature seafood stocks, but there is now concern that with oceans becoming more acidic, shellfish are struggling to survive

"It means the product will become more expensive with time," said Roberta Stevenson who speaks for the BC Shellfish Grower's Association. "Always when you have more demand than supply we are able to raise our prices."

According to Statistics Canada, the price of seafood in Canada rose close to three per cent over the past year.

Stevenson says as waters grow more acidic, farmers are seeing a direct impact on the health of their shellfish, specifically their ability to procreate.

"The concern is in the hatcheries when we try to get our animals to reproduce in a hatchery setting at day eight they have a difficulty creating their shell because of the acidity in the water," she said.