Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia (deoxygenation) are increasingly becoming hot topics on the ocean conservation scene. Like many climate change impacts, we're just beginning to understand how these threats may, and already are, impacting our way of life and that of our ocean environment. Decision-makers and resource managers are quickly approaching necessary action to lessen our impact and adapt to these changes, but where does one start? The West Coast Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Science Panel has recently published Multiple Stressor Considerations, a new report that highlights these stressors and the need for coordinated action by natural resource, water and air managers and policy-makers.
If either Ocean Acidification (OA) or Hypoxia are new to you, head on over to Beachapedia to learn more about Ocean Acidification here and visit PISCO's site to learn about Hypoxia here. These changes in our ocean environment are not isolated to any single climate change driver such as CO2 emmissions, rather, they occur against a backdrop of other changes and some that we may just have more control over than we think. Here's a great little piece that better connects this point for OA, it's intersection with Surfrider's mission and efforts on the ground that anyone can participate in.
Given the myriad of drivers and impacts and the challenge for decision makers to respond with coordinated action, the Science Panel's report is designed to support managers and policy-makers in considering and devising appropriate responses and actions. Through various policy scenarios, research models allow for a better understanding for where we can make our greatest impact to ameliorate and adapt to these ocean changes. You can download the full report here, below are some of the key themes that came about from the report. AND, this is just one of many reports and projects that the West Coast Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Science Panel has produced. Be sure and check out their website for lots of other great products and resource here - http://westcoastoah.org/panelproducts/.
