The spotted rose snapper (Lutjanus guttatus), locally known as pargo mancha or pargo lunarejo, is a commercially and culturally valuable fish species in Costa Rica. (Photo: C. Sanchez-Noguera/University of Costa Rica)
Global seafood security depends on the health of our ocean. However, this vital resource is currently under threat from the 'invisible' process of ocean acidification.
As the ocean absorbs more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, its chemistry changes, making it increasingly difficult for many marine species, including shellfish and fish that billions of people rely on for protein, to grow and survive.
To address this challenge, the IAEA launched a five-year Coordinated Research Project (CRP) in August 2019 to evaluate how changing ocean chemistry affects seafood and to explore adaptation strategies for the aquaculture and fisheries industries.
A Unified Scientific Protocol for a Global Assessment
The project applied a novel, collaborative approach in which researchers from 14 countries across five continents used a common experimental protocol, allowing results to be compared and integrated into a single dataset.
The project enabled scientists to study how locally important seafood species respond to the complex physiological stress of acidifying waters, including impacts on growth and mortality, as well as seafood quality, such as taste and texture. By focusing on species of high socio-economic importance such as oysters, mussels, shrimp and fish, the research provides a direct link between marine chemistry changes and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
Using similar methodologies and research kits provided by the IAEA, the consortium successfully co-designed a comprehensive experimental framework. This turnkey scientific model allowed laboratories with varying levels of experience to produce high-quality data to inform policy making.
"This project allowed us to move beyond isolated observations to a more global understanding," said Florence Descroix-Comanducci, Director of the IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories. "By providing countries with a unified scientific framework to study ocean acidification impacts, we have empowered them to produce data that is high-quality, comparable and ready to inform national policy. We are no longer looking at individual pieces of a puzzle; we are seeing a more complete picture of ocean change."
The team from the University of Costa Rica organizing a public seafood tasting of the spotted rose snapper (Lutjanus guttatus) previously subjected to ocean acidification, to assess potential impacts on taste and texture. (Photo: C. Sanchez-Noguera/University of Costa Rica)
Strengthening Infrastructure and Informing Policy
The impact of the project extends beyond the laboratory, strengthening research infrastructure and informing policy frameworks of the participating countries.
The initiative led to the establishment of specialized laboratories for ocean acidification research in Türkiye and Cuba, as well as new monitoring stations in Argentina.
Furthermore, the project mentored more than 30 students and early-career scientists, helping to build a skilled workforce capable of tackling future marine challenges. These enhanced capabilities have already translated into real-world policy changes. In Ecuador, for example, data generated through the project was shared with policymakers to inform articles of the National Environmental Law, which now explicitly addresses ocean acidification.
This collaborative effort also brought science to local communities, engaging with aquaculture managers and the public through surveys and seafood-tasting events.
"The collaborative nature of this project helped us bring the topic of ocean acidification to the attention of decision-makers in a way we couldn't have done alone," said Betina Lomovasky, a researcher from Argentina.
The project has provided a solid basis for long-term food security and the sustainable management of marine resources in a changing climate.
