Thanks to a nearly $3 million show of support from the state, high tech buoys will soon be measuring ocean acidity levels year ‘round,  and Alaska fishermen will play an important role in the research.

Basic chemistry proves that ocean waters are becoming more corrosive and it is happening faster in colder waters. The acidity, caused by increasing carbon dioxide emissions, can prevent shells from forming on crabs or oysters and tiny shrimplike organisms essential to fish diets. 

Alaska’s monitoring project will allow scientists to develop a “sensitivity index” for the Gulf of A...