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Scientists, Fishermen and Policymakers Collaborate to Gain Ground on Ocean Acidification

Following a series of regional ocean acidification workshops with the seafood industry this past year, SeaWeb identified shellfish producers as the sector most concerned and most willing to support ocean acidification research and policy.

At the National Shellfisheries Association Annual Meeting in Baltimore, March 28 to 30, 2011, SeaWeb hosted the closing session about Ocean Chemistry and Shellfish on March 29. This town hall–style discussion reflected on the day's learning and identify opportunities for collaborative research, data collection and policy engagement on ocean acidification between agency representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), scientists, shellfish producers and other stakeholders.

Michael Rubino, head of NOAA’s Aquaculture Program, set the context for the conversation by discussing opportunities for partnerships around research and data collection to track changing ocean chemistry. Research Professor of Microbiology Michael Lesser from the University of New Hampshire, SeaWeb’s Vice President for Science Initiatives Kristian Teleki, Bill Dewey of Taylor Shellfish and Gary Wikfors from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center at NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Servicewill provided opening insights and reflections to kick off the discussion. Following their remarks, the conversation opened up to everyone participating in the session.

Find out more about the conference >>

Learn more about ocean acidification >>

Read ocean acidification expert Ken Caldeira's Ocean Voice and listen him talk about the impacts of ocean acidification on "Good Morning America" >>

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