Last month, the United Nations Foundation stated that the ocean appears to be reaching a tipping point. Over the past year, sea surface temperatures have shattered records daily. Ninety percent of the globe’s big fish populations are depleted. Half of the coral reefs are destroyed. The triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss is pushing Earth, especially life below water, to the brink of extinction.

As ocean surfaces acidify due to the absorption of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels, a new study shows that a deep-sea acidic zone is also expanding. This means that marine habitats are being squeezed from both above and below. 

To help us understand the relevance and impacts of this for sea life and all life on earth, Dr Peter Harris – Adjunct Professor at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania joined The Daily host Nelson Scott to discuss more.