Meg Chadsey December 3, 2013

What it is,  and why it matters…  

Ocean Acidification:  

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

What is Ocean Acidification?

The ocean absorbs ~25% of carbon dioxide we’re pumping into the atmosphere.

Sarah  Cooley,  Woods  Hole  Oceanographic  Ins<tute  

CO2

(Carbon Dioxide)

Climate change

Ocean acidification

ßH2O   +  CO2   à  H2C03  Carbonic  Acid  

Seawater  

The pH Scale

Source:  Dr.  Simone  Alin,  NOAA  PMEL  h>p://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/A+primer+on+pH  

Washington is Particularly Vulnerable to Acidification Appearing decades sooner than anticipated.

Regional factors exacerbating the problem:

Upwelling along the coastà

Excess nutrientsàblooms

Decay of organic material

Acidifying gasses (NOX and SOX)

Washington  Coast  photo:  Russ  McMillan  

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

Pteropods, or ‘sea butterflies’

Live  pteropod  image:  Dr.  Russ  HopcroI,  UofA  Fairbanks;  Shell  images:  Dr.  Nina  Bednarsek,  NOAA  PMEL  

are dissolving… Normal pteropod shell Corroded pteropod shell in acidic seawater

Also vulnerable to OA…

Fish Food

People Food

Ecosystems

Potential Food Web Impacts

Pacific  Salmon  

Pteropods  

Copepods  Coccolithophores  

U.S. Commercial Fisheries Affected by Ocean Acidification

26%

24%

9%

11%

10%

1%1%3%

10%5%

Top Predators Calcifiers’ predators Lobsters Crabs Shrimp UninfluencedOther calcifiers Oysters & mussels Scallops Clams

Primary fishery revenue ~ $4 billion/year*

Crustaceans (lobster,crabs and shrimp)

*2007 U.S. domestic ex-vessel revenue (USD)

Cooley  &  Doney  Environment  Research  Le>ers,  2009  

Mollusks (shellfish)

About half comes from calcifiers (mollusks and crustaceans)

About a quarter comes from species that eat calcifiers

What’s at Stake for our Economy?

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

Photos:  Benjamin  Drummond  (leI  and  right);  Bryan  PenWla  (center)  

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

Photos:    U.S.  Dept.  Agriculture;    City  of  SeaXle;  WA  Assn.  of  Conserva<on  Districts    

What’s at Stake for our Economy? (cont’d)

What’s at Stake for Washington’s Tribes?

Cultural and economic survival •  Washington tribes depend upon shellfish for food,

income, and connection to their cultural heritage.

Photos:  Northwest  Indian  Fisheries  Commission  

Photos:  Northwest  Indian  Fisheries  Commission  

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 Gov. Gregoire and Bill Dewey of Taylor

Shellfish Company discuss oyster farming in the tide flats in Samish Bay.

Photo:  Puget  Sound  Partnership  

“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

What should we do about OA?

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  

$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)

State Legislature Funds OA Response

Thank You!

Photo:  MaX  Chadsey