But wait. Just as some people like lemon juice in their water and some do not, creatures that live in the sea have their likes and dislikes about acidic water too. Mostly dislikes.
Take baby oysters, for example. Along the Oregon coast, many are dying at only a few days old. That is because the ocean water is too acidic for them to form their shells.
Other creatures already suffering from too much acid are some corals, and some other shellfish. Sea creatures with shells—like oysters, clams, and mussels—need the ocean to be a little less acidic than fresh water. That way, they can use the minerals in the water to make their shells.
An acidic ocean is no better for ocean life than an atmosphere with too much carbon dioxide greenhouse gas is for land life!