This document summarizes ocean acidification, its causes and impacts. It begins by explaining that as the ocean absorbs increasing amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, the pH of seawater decreases, making it more acidic. This phenomenon is known as ocean acidification. It then discusses how ocean acidification particularly impacts the Northwest region of the United States by discussing the factors that exacerbate the problem locally. The document also summarizes the economic and cultural impacts of ocean acidification for Washington state in terms of fisheries, shellfish industries, tribal communities and more. It concludes by outlining recommendations from Washington's Blue Ribbon Panel on Ocean Acidification and actions the state legislature has taken to fund the panel's proposed response strategies

1. Ocean Acidification:
What it is, and why it matters…
Meg Chadsey
December 3, 2013

3. Image
courtesy
of
Jack
Cook,
Woods
Hole
Oceanographic
Ins<tute

4. What is Ocean Acidification?
Climate change
CO2
(Carbon Dioxide)
The ocean absorbs ~25% of
carbon dioxide we’re pumping
into the atmosphere.
Ocean acidification
Sarah
Cooley,
Woods
Hole
Oceanographic
Ins<tute

5. The pH Scale
ßH2O
+
CO2
à
H2C03
Seawater
Carbonic
Acid
Source:
Dr.
Simone
Alin,
NOAA
PMEL
h>p://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/A+primer+on+pH

6. Washington is Particularly Vulnerable
to Acidification
Appearing decades sooner than
anticipated.
Regional factors exacerbating
the problem:
Upwelling along the coastà
Excess nutrientsàblooms
Decay of organic material
Acidifying gasses (NOX and SOX)
Washington
Coast
photo:
Russ
McMillan

7. Ocean Acidification means…..
less calcium carbonate for building shells

8. Pteropods, or ‘sea butterflies’
are dissolving…
Normal pteropod shell
Corroded pteropod shell in acidic seawater
Live
pteropod
image:
Dr.
Russ
HopcroI,
UofA
Fairbanks;
Shell
images:
Dr.
Nina
Bednarsek,
NOAA
PMEL

9. Also vulnerable to OA…
Ecosystems
Fish
Food
People Food

10. Potential Food Web Impacts
Pacific
Salmon
Coccolithophores
Pteropods
Copepods

11. U.S. Commercial Fisheries
Affected by Ocean Acidification
Primary fishery revenue ~ $4 billion/year*
*2007 U.S. domestic ex-vessel revenue (USD)
Mollusks
(shellfish)
5%
10%
About half comes
from calcifiers
(mollusks and
crustaceans)
Crustaceans
(lobster,crabs
and shrimp)
Top Predators
Other calcifiers
26%
3%
1%
1%
10%
11%
24%
9%
Calcifiers’ predators
Oysters & mussels
Lobsters
Scallops
About a quarter
comes from species
that eat calcifiers
Crabs
Clams
Shrimp
Uninfluenced
Cooley
&
Doney
Environment
Research
Le>ers,
2009

12. What’s at Stake for our Economy?
Photos:
Benjamin
Drummond
(leI
and
right);
Bryan
PenWla
(center)
Washington commercial shellfish industry:
• Most productive on the West Coast
• Accounts for almost 85% of West Coast annual sales
• Generates $270 million annually
• Supports 3,200 jobs

13. What’s at Stake for our Economy? (cont’d)
Photos:
U.S.
Dept.
Agriculture;
City
of
SeaXle;
WA
Assn.
of
Conserva<on
Districts
Valuable wild and recreational fisheries
• Food web impacts could ripple through Washington’s
seafood industry
•
42,000 state jobs
•
$1.7 billion annual contribution
• Coastal communities depend on recreational shellfishing

14. What’s at Stake for Washington’s Tribes?
Photos:
Northwest
Indian
Fisheries
Commission
Cultural and economic survival
• Washington tribes depend upon shellfish for food,
income, and connection to their cultural heritage.
Photos:
Northwest
Indian
Fisheries
Commission

15. The Blue Ribbon Panel on Ocean Acidification
• Convened by Governor Christine
Gregoire in February 2012.
• A first-of-a-kind state-level effort
• Panel charge:
• Review best available science
• Recommendations for response
• Included:
• scientists
• decision makers
• industry stakeholders
• tribal representatives
• conservation community
Photo:
Puget
Sound
Partnership
Gov. Gregoire and Bill Dewey of Taylor
Shellfish Company discuss oyster
farming in the tide flats in Samish Bay.

16. What should we do about OA?
“Nowhere on our planet is a local response to ocean
acidification more urgently and immediately needed than
here in Washington State.”
~ Dr. Jane Lubchenco, NOAA Administrator, Nov 27, 2012
“The cost of responding to ocean acidification may be
substantial, but it is still far less than the costs of inaction.
Responding to ocean acidification will require a sustained
effort – there’s no silver bullet solution.”
~ Bill Ruckelshaus, Blue Ribbon Panel co-chair, Nov. 27, 2012
“Washington can lead.”
~ Governor Gregoire, Nov 27, 2012

17. Panel Recommendations
1. Reduce CO2 emissions
2. Reduce land-based pollutants that
worsen OA
3. Foster adaptation and remediation
to protect the shellfish industry
and marine ecosystems;
4. Increase research and monitoring
5. Inform, educate, and engage
6. Maintain a sustained and
coordinated focus on OA
Photo:
Dan
BenneX

18. State Legislature Funds OA Response
$1.82 million for Washington Center on OA
• Continued water quality monitoring at shellfish
hatcheries… ($150K)
• Expanded OA monitoring… ($475K)
• Laboratory studies to assess direct causes and
effects of OA… ($170K)
• Develop short-term forecasting ability… ($325K)
• Develop strategies to protect shellfish larvae in
hatcheries... ($100K)

19. Thank You!
Photo:
MaX
Chadsey