Extra acid in the world’s oceans could wreck coral reefs and fish stocks around the world, a new report has warned.

The report by a German research team on the biological impact of ocean acidification (Bioacid) warned that seas absorbed extra carbon dioxide pollution in the air and become more acidic.

The research was highlighted by the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences.

Nick Bates, a scientist at Bios, said: “The study doesn’t add much more to what we already know for the Bermuda marine environment, but rather confirms the global issue and impacts of ocean acidification. It is a clarion call that ocean acidification has and will have profound impacts on marine ecosystems, including iconic coral reefs and fish stocks, for example, across the globe.”

According to researchers, around a third of the carbon dioxide released into the air by human activities are absorbed by the oceans.

That, in turn, causes chemical reactions that make the water increasingly acidic.

More than 250 scientists conducted experiments as part of part of the Bioacid project.

The report found that changing the acidity of the ocean could affect marine life across the globe.

The report said: “Marine life is able to adapt to ocean change through evolution and can partly compensate for negative effects.

“However, since ocean acidification happens extremely fast compared to natural processes, only organisms with short generation times, such as microorganisms, are able to keep up.”

The report also found that ocean acidification, along with warmer waters, reduced the survival rates of some fish species.

It added: “This will likely reduce recruitment of fish stocks and ultimately fisheries yields.

“The distribution and abundance of fish species will change. This will have a significant impact on economic activities such as small-scale coastal fisheries and tourism.”