NOAA announces grants to predict ocean acidification's effects on commercial
fisheries
September 19, 2012
<http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2012/images/cl-sum09-hardclams.jpg>
Hard clams.
Hard clams.
Download here
<http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2012/images/cl-sum09-hardclams.jpg> .
(Credit: NY Sea Grant.)
As scientists continue to research ways in which the oceans are changing -
and what these changes mean for fish populations, three new research
projects will receive funding to examine the effects of ocean acidification
on fisheries, and the coastal economies that depend upon them.
Ocean acidification occurs when the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere, making it more acidic. Species as diverse as scallops and coral
are vulnerable to ocean acidification, which can affect the growth of their
shells and skeletons.
The grants, totaling nearly $1.6 million over three years, will go to:
* Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: $682,000 to understand the
connection between fluctuations of carbon dioxide levels and ocean scallop
populations, harvest and economic conditions;
* The State University of New York at Stony Brook: $533,000 to examine
bay scallops and hard clams to determine acidification's effects on each
species and identify the most vulnerable regions of estuaries; and
* The University of Washington: $374,000 to study a large climate
model with fish populations and economic models in order to predict ocean
conditions and economic effects.
"Efforts to estimate the effect of ocean acidification on fishery
populations will be valuable to our own work," said Jonathan Hare,
oceanography branch chief of NOAA's Northeast Fisheries Science Center. "The
goal is to incorporate the effects of ocean acidification into advice
provided to the regional fishery management councils."
The monetary value of scallops and clams both as seafood and for their
ability to clean the water surrounding them is in the billions of dollars
annually, according to a NOAA study. Knowing how increased acidity will
affect shellfish and the communities who depend on them will help resource
managers develop strategies to prepare for the future.
Atlantic scallop.
Atlantic scallop. (Credit: NOAA)
Valuable Pacific fish, such as sablefish, hake, and rockfish depend upon
food sources vulnerable to more acidic seas. But scientists know less about
how ocean acidification can affect the whole ecosystem surrounding these
species. Some species may be more susceptible to ocean acidification than
others, and these species might need closer management. Knowing where and
when any effects might be felt is also important to developing fishery
management plans.
NOAA works closely with regional fishery management councils as fishery
management plans are developed, and then reviews, approves, and implements
the plans. This research will help the councils plan for future effects of
ocean acidification.
These awards are managed by the NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean
Science and Ocean Acidification Program. These research awards complement
ongoing work within NOAA that monitors acidification and determines its
effects on marine populations.
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