In Louisiana, seafood is a way of life, but a new study hints to the devastating consequences climate change could have on the gulf coast’s seafood industry, especially oyster production.

For businesses that rely on a thriving seafood industry, anything that threatens that livelihood is a concern. The research says our oceans absorb 30% of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, which makes the ocean more acidic. This makes it difficult for shellfish, like oysters and clams to grow, but gulf coast fisheries say that isn’t an issue here. In fact, industry leaders say they have “bigger fish to fry”.

Right now, public oyster reefs’ production is at an all-time low with over 2 million acres of reefs being impacted by salinity changes. With ocean acidification a distant problem, industry leaders remain optimistic they will get ahead of the issue.