Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research his Department has commissioned on the threats of changes to the (a) temperature, (b) pH and (c) level of carbonate ions in the sea to (i) shellfish and (ii) finfish.

The Department has commissioned and contributed towards a range of research on the threats of changes to temperature, pH and carbonate ions in the sea. This includes:

The UK Ocean Acidification research programme (UKOA), which DEFRA contributed towards, and which investigated the threats of ocean acidification through experimental studies and modelling for several finfish and shellfish species.

We commissioned the ‘Placing Ocean Acidification in a wider Fisheries Context’ (PLACID) project which has included studies on commercially important shellfish and finfish. We also commissioned a study on Impacts from Climate Change and Ocean Acidification on Fisheries and Marine Biodiversity. Most recently our contribution to the Shelf Sea Biogeochemistry programme further extends the field work of UKOA and PLACID. Further information on the research we commission is available of the Defra Science Search website.

The UK Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership provides co-ordinated information on threats and research and has included specific report cards on key shellfish and finfish species, as well as ocean acidification.

We also recognise the importance of global research collaboration and have recently supported the establishment of a North East Atlantic Ocean Acidification Hub to co-ordinate and share data, as well as our continued work with the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment (OSPAR) Ocean Acidification group.