Progress report for
Addressing Ocean Acidification in Washington State
Achievement at a glance
Washington has largely completed the deliverables set out in its initial voluntary commitment for SDG 14.1, 14.2 and 14.3.<br>In December 2017, Washington completed an updated ocean acidification action plan (http://oainwa.org/). This plan documented the significant progress in the state on addressing ocean acidification and updated actions and next steps.
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<br>Initial modeling of local nutrient source contributions to ocean acidification conditions has been completed. Additional work is underway to evaluate scenarios for nutrient reduction.
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<br>The LiveOcean model that predicts corrosive conditions for Oregon and Washington coasts has been extended to Puget Sound and Willapa Bay. 3-day forecasts are now widely available to end users on a public website (http://www.nanoos.org).
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<br>The research project investigating the role of kelp in assisting with local ocean acidification conditions will wrap up by December 2019.
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<br>Furthermore, Washingtons Governor Inslee signed into law a suite of the strongest climate change policies in the nation that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, decarbonize Washingtons economy and puts the state on a path to a clean energy future.
Challenges faced in implementation
Taking informed management actions requires solid scientific evidence, adequate funding, good communication, coordination and collaboration across diverse interest groups, and buy-in from a broad range of decision-makers. Some management actions have proven easier to translate to implementation and other require more time and effort to achieve the end goal.Beneficiaries
Washingtons work to address ocean acidification benefits directly affected industries such as shellfish growers and crab fishery, natural resource managers, tribes, the public, and the marine ecosystem itself. It also benefits a wide range of other governments and entities around the globe who are grappling with how to address ocean acidification.
Actions
Monitoring and forecasting models developed by and supported through the Washington Ocean Acidification Center provides our shellfish growers with information needed to adapt their hatchery and planting practices to improve the survival of shellfish.<br>
<br>Washingtons biological research has advanced knowledge the broad impacts from ocean acidification to other species and the entire marine ecosystem from pteropods to salmon to our endangered orca populations.
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<br>Washingtons actions to reduce causes of ocean acidification and build adaptive capacity has positive benefits to a broad range of people beyond the shellfish industry those who rely on a healthy marine ecosystem for their livelihoods, their food, their culture, and their overall well-being. It benefits the resource managers (state, tribal, federal) that have opportunities to employ other strategies to reduce causes of ocean acidification or build greater resiliency for the marine ecosystem. This work also benefits the broad array of marine species who face displacement, population decline, or extinction.
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<br>Specific examples of other Washington actions that have positive impact for these beneficiaries, include:
<br>Evaluating, protecting, and restoring aquatic vegetation that can help remediate ocean acidification conditions at a local scale.
<br>Modelling the contribution of land-based sources that exacerbate acidification, particularly nutrients, and working to reduce those land-based sources.
<br>Assessing social and economic vulnerability for tribal communities to ocean acidification.
<br>Expanding awareness to decision-makers and the general public through education and outreach.
<br>Ongoing coordination and implementation of Washington's plan guided by the Marine Resource Advisory Council.
<br>Coordinating strategic scientific investigations and scientific exchanges through the Washington Ocean Acidification Center.
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<br>Washington exchanges lessons-learned with a wide variety of domestic and international partners formally and informally using its experts in industry, science, policy, and management and through high-level leadership.
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