Collaboration often lies at the heart of successfully navigating environmental change, and this is evident for how states on the East Coast are approaching ocean acidification. Our ocean’s waters are increasing in acidity, primarily from absorbing carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere. In the Mid-Atlantic, increased freshwater runoff and nutrient pollution can also increase the acidity of coastal waters. Increasing acidity threatens many marine animals, including shellfish like the economically important Eastern oyster, which has a harder time building its shell in acidified water.
The Mid-Atlantic Coastal Acidification Network (MACAN) was formed to bring together scientists, resource managers, tribal, federal, and state agency representatives, and affected industry representatives to address acidification on a regional level. Members of the group work together to discuss what is known about ocean acidification science in the region, what the priorities are for future research and monitoring, and to communicate what the potential impacts to marine species may be and how communities can adapt to changing conditions. Most of the network’s activities take place through its four working groups, which are focused on science, outreach, industry, and policy.
MACAN is a collaboration between the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO) and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System (MARACOOS). The partnership between these two organizations in supporting MACAN highlights the strengths of each and how they complement each other. For example, the MARACOOS OceansMap provides ocean, coastal, and estuarine data, including observing data, past and real time, and predictions for ocean acidification in the Chesapeake Bay, while MARCO’s Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal uses ocean data to create maps and other tools for decision makers. Avalon Bristow, MACAN co-coordinator and Program Director for MARCO explains how MACAN fits into MARCO’s priorities, “Because one of MARCO’s priorities is climate change adaptation, we want to make sure our coastal economies and communities are prepared for and understand if, when, and where acidification events may occur in the Mid-Atlantic.”
MACAN worked with both organizations on one of their early priorities, which was to support increased monitoring of ocean acidification in the region. Monitoring is a crucial first step in understanding what marine resources could be impacted by changing chemistry. MACAN developed a series of maps that show where ocean acidification monitoring is taking place. These maps are hosted on the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal and show where monitoring for ocean acidification is occurring, what data parameters are being collected and what platform they are being collected from, such as a ship or buoy. Bristow shares, “These maps can be used to identify where there are gaps in monitoring. If there’s a large area with no monitoring, that could inform researchers of an area to prioritize.” MACAN members used these maps to develop and describe monitoring priorities.
Looking ahead, MACAN is planning to revisit these monitoring priorities and continue discussing how to build a regional ocean acidification monitoring network at an upcoming Fall 2021 workshop, which is being planned in partnership with the OA Alliance (You can learn more and register for the workshop here).
In addition to informing monitoring and research needs, MACAN serves a critical role in providing information to people who rely on the marine resources that are threatened by ocean acidification, including recreational fishermen, commercial fisheries, and tribes. MACAN distributed a stakeholder survey to learn more about the concerns of different industry members. One of the main findings in the survey report was that recreational fishermen didn’t know much about ocean acidification, but were eager to find out more. This led to MACAN hosting a “Hooked on Ocean Acidification” webinar series, where scientists shared their expertise on the science and impacts of ocean acidification with recreational anglers. Mary Ford, co-coordinator of MACAN and Director of Engagement & External Relations for MARACOOS explains how this was a huge success, "Connecting stakeholder needs to data driven solutions is critical to the work that MARACOOS does. MACAN provides a key platform for commercial and recreational fisherman to connect with researchers to understand impacts of acidification and work together to identify needs and best practices."
MACAN also engages state governments in the Mid-Atlantic, many of which have started addressing ocean acidification through state planning efforts, either through a specific ocean acidification action plan or through a larger climate action plan. As these states start moving from planning towards implementation, MACAN is stepping in to see how they can help states advance their goals by connecting them with scientists and other resources from the group. This will be another focus of the upcoming workshop, and MACAN is excited to explore how they can support this effort.
MACAN’s work is crucial to advancing understanding of how ocean acidification might affect the Mid-Atlantic region. Through their collaborative efforts, the network is sharing information with the people who need it and helping them understand how ocean acidification fits into the bigger picture of all the other changes affecting our ocean.
Credits:
Title image: Credit: Susan McLean, MARCO Image 1: Eastern oysters in the hands of a farmer Credit: Susan McLean, MARCO Image 2: A buoy that monitors ocean acidification in the Chesapeake Bay Credit: NOAA Image 3: View from on board a recreational angler boat Credit: NOAA Fisheries Image 4: Coastal community in the Mid-Atlantic Credit: Tom Lozinski, MARCO