Ocean acidification affects us all
It’s silent. Invisible. Often overlooked. But ocean acidification (OA) has profound impacts on our marine ecosystems, coastal communities, and regional economies.
As we continue to emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the ocean continues to absorb it, buffering us against the worst effects of climate change. But this protection comes at a cost - not only are waters warming, but they are becoming more acidic, with some pretty frightening consequences. Here in Washington, our waters are acidifying faster than the global average due to upwelling and other oceanographic conditions off our coast.
Luckily, Washington also has numerous agencies and institutions, industry experts and Tribes, academics and activists, all working together to collect data, model changes, and collaborate on ways to manage this threat. Enter the Ocean Acidification Sentinel Site, or OASeS for short. The goal of OASeS is to promote collaboration and amplification of research, education, and outreach in order to inform our response to changing ocean conditions.
One of the ways OASeS facilitates this collaboration is by hosting a biennial OA Symposium that brings many of the people working on these issues together to share, brainstorm, identify data gaps, and work towards solutions.
This year’s OASeS Symposium was held in Forks this past May. This convergence of scientific inquiry, tribal wisdom, and community action illuminated the urgent need to understand and address the growing threat of ocean acidification. As one of the only non-profits present, I felt incredibly privileged to listen to Tribal elders share their stories and to learn from so many experts in this space.
A trip to Second Beach is a great reminder of what we’re fighting to protect
The importance of traditional ecological knowledge
At the heart of this event was the sharing of Indigenous experiences of changing ocean conditions and how OA impacts Tribal ways of life. Coastal Tribes have a deep connection with the ocean, and their knowledge extends back centuries before Western science began measuring things like pH and carbonate. Their connection to place, understanding of natural rhythms, and knowledge of pre-colonial conditions provide critical insights into the changes that industrialization has wrought on our marine ecosystems.
The Symposium kicked off with tribal members and elders sharing their lived experiences with the changes occurring along our coasts. The overall theme was that of diminishing resources - less kelp, less frequent and smaller fish runs, fewer clams with thinner shells - the list goes on. These stories set the context for the remainder of the Symposium, grounding it in time and place and elevating the urgency of these issues.
Photo credit: Jenny Waddell
Student outreach and community action
We also learned how students are getting involved in OA issues, including a new Natural Resources program at Peninsula College, OSU researchers working with Taholah students to monitor hypoxia and acidification off Quinault Indian Nation beaches, and a student underwater ROV (remote-operated vehicle) competition held in Forks the weekend after the Symposium. Shout out to OPC volunteers for supporting this event over the years, including volunteering to be judges and providing scholarships!
There were several presentations and multiple discussions about how to address climate change, a leading cause of acidification on our outer coast, including an overview of how SB 5126, the Cap & Invest bill that passed in 2021, has already been used to fund climate change adaptation and emissions reductions in Washington. This Seattle Times article goes into more detail about how these funds have directly benefited Washington’s tribal communities. You can read more about Ecology’s Cap & Invest program here.
Data download
The second day was focused on the science of these changes - from oceanographic monitoring efforts, to modeling the effects of OA on Dungeness crab fisheries, to analyzing how fluctuations in temperature, pH, and other parameters are affecting our fisheries and marine wildlife.
Utilizing sophisticated modeling techniques, experts projected future scenarios of ocean acidification. These forecasts painted a sobering picture of the challenges ahead, predicting widespread impacts on marine life, including commercially important species like the Dungeness crab.
Just a few of the tools of the trade - behold the myriad sensors used in monitoring ocean conditions
Pathways to Action: Amidst the gloomy forecast, there emerged a beacon of hope – pathways to mitigate ocean acidification. Through collective action, policy changes, and individual choices, we can reduce our carbon emissions and slow the acidification process.
So what are some actions we can take?
- Continue to support policies that reduce emissions
- Support funding for critical NOAA programs (INSERT LINK)
- Protect essential habitats (wetlands, seagrass, kelp)
- Help share and educate others about how OA impacts our ocean, waves, and beaches
- Individual actions to reduce your own emissions (drive less if possible, buy local when you can, take action to reduce runoff from lawns and urban landscapes, etc)
NOAA and WA Seagrant outline what OA issues we can and cannot take action on
Resources:
Ocean Acidification Resource Collection | National Marine Sanctuaries
Ocean Acidification – Washington Sea Grant
Ocean Acidification - Beachapedia
Oregon Region - Surfrider Foundation
Pacific Ocean takes perilous turn | Sea Change: Ocean acidification | The Seattle Times
Frequently Asked Questions about OA
Acid Oceans Can Be Fought at Home - Scientific American
You know what they say - you can lead a scientist to the water, but you can’t stop them from tide-pooling…