This oxygenation process results in melanin, leading to the visible black tissue. But most importantly, the ciliate impairs and blocks necessary respiratory processes and hemolymph flows for ion regulation. The diseased gills inhibit the entire immune system, leading to early natural death or inability to evade other ocean predators. Metal contamination originating from industrial waste, oil spills, and general water pollution has been reported as a contributing factor to the black gill disease epidemic seen in crustaceans. A direct correlation has not been confirmed. Environmental and climate changes affecting temperature and salt water content have been confirmed sources of parasite families, including ciliates. In a controlled environment, it is possible to prevent cases of black gill disease. The water should have 10-20 parts per thousand parts salinity and filtered. Scientists have reviewed ocean lifeforms in reference to possible effects of Pacifical Decadal Oscillation and El Niño climate occurrences, concluding the patterned emergence of black gill disease is linked to large-scale weather events. Affected regions Black gill disease is confirmed in fish, crabs, and shrimp at human populated coastlines across four continents. Each region’s scientists conducted histological study of shrimp control and diseased groups. The results present the universality of black gill disease across all water bodies. Asia China: In 2020, seeking prevention methods against high shrimp death rates, Chinese shrimp farms conducted genetic testing of infected specimens, finalizing Fusarium solani as the cause. The experimental results concluded an 88.66% mortality rate amongst its diseased shrimp. Japan Phillipines India: Researchers gathered over 500 yeast examples from India's southwestern coastline, concluding at least one fungus as fatal for shrimps. North America Chesapeake Bay Area North Carolina South Carolina Georgia: The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has operated shrimp collection for academic purposes since 1976, affirming the presence of black gill disease since the early 2000s. Gulf of Mexico Australia Black gilled crabs were detected by researchers, who cited a ciliate from the Apostomatida family as the cause. Other impacts The seafood industry based out of the Carolinas and Georgia experienced a decline in shrimp capture beginning from 1996, generating half the revenue by 2014 at $5.5 million. University of Georgia’s research for the cause of black gill disease in the U.S. Southeast coast led to the first-time sequencing of rRNA (18S rRNA) gene (1634 bp) from the suspected Hyalophysa chattoni ciliate related strain. The sequence has been recorded in the National Center