The answer is : Light waves would be more likely to be refracted or diffracted, thus failing to reach plants and phytoplankton
Sunlight is needed by the producer(plants, phytoplankton) in the ocean to do photosynthesis. When an are is attacked by severe storm, the area will be covered by cloud of the storm which impede the light, cause it to be refracted or diffracted. This will cause less light comes to the producer of the plants and phytoplankton.
