Over 60 individuals were present for last week’s State Ocean Caucus meeting held at the Westport Maritime Museum to learn about updates on Washington’s ocean resources and to hear from presenters on ocean acidification and marine spatial planning. The agenda also included a public comment period and an annual status report from the Grays Harbor County Marine Resources Committee, who co-sponsored the event. Among those in attendance were County Commissioner Al Carter, Governor’s Office representative Bob Nichols, Ray Toste of the Washington Crab Fisherman’s Association, area interest groups, state and county agency lead, and local citizens. The evening kicked off with an open house with refreshments where agency representatives and locals mingled about local concerns and agenda topics.Department of Ecology’s Jennifer Hennessey, who works as the coordinator for the State Ocean Caucus, commenced the evening’s event and welcomed. The Ocean Caucus is a team of state agencies that was originally formed in 2007 through funding by the legislature to help implement recommendations outlined in Washington’s Ocean Action Plan. The Action Plan sets out ways to align efforts and prioritize activities among agencies in relation to the ocean environment through the help of stakeholders and the public. The night’s meeting is one of several offered throughout the year to provide updates to the public on regulatory measures and general information specific to ocean resource issues.
Ocean acidification
Next a presentation on ocean acidification was given by Dr. Adrienne Sutton with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s Pacific Marine Environmental Lab. Sutton outlined the definition and processes involved with ocean acidification and reported on recent studies showing that ocean chemistry is changing faster than it has in hundreds of thousands of years. The process begins with carbon dioxide (or CO2) being absorbed by the ocean from the atmosphere from things such as the burning of fossil fuels for energy (coal, oil, natural gas), cement production, and deforestation. CO2 when combined with water, changes the entire chemistry of our ocean waters. Sutton explained that the impacts of ocean acidification are an urgent issue because of the potential global-scale effects they present across such a broad spectrum of marine life. Of particular concern to our region are the possible effects it may have on shellfish and possibly finfish. Research has shown that increased acidity is impacting the needed elements in ocean waters required by many marine organisms to grow their shells and skeletons. Ocean acidification has already shown a reduction in calcification rates in corals and leave researchers to note this affect on economically important shellfish species such as oysters, scallops, mussels, clams, sea urchins, crabs, and lobsters.
Many questions came from the audience pertaining to what actions state and federal agencies plan to take on this issue. Dr. Sutton said that NOAA has been working collaboratively with the University of Washington, the Washington Department of Ecology, and the Environmental Protection Agency on assessing the status of ocean acidification in Washington with ongoing research. In addition assistance from recent and emerging legislation, such as Congressman Brian Baird’s Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act as well as support from the Departments of Ecology and Community Trade and Economic Development, will be support mechanisms in helping to establish comprehensive strategies and funding to address this issue head on and find solutions.
Marine spatial planning
Ecology’s Jennifer Hennessey continued on with updates on marine spatial planning in Washington. In simple terms marine spatial planning is a tool to support making decisions for managing coastal and ocean environments. Hennessey noted that Washington continues to take part in this “process” which originated through direction from both the Obama Administration’s Ocean Policy Task Force over a year ago and now more recently from Washington State Senate Bill 6350 for Marine Spatial Planning which passed this March. This new measure will assist in planning uses of ocean waters and it will enable Washington to apply for federal funds for marine spatial planning work and related issues such as seafloor mapping, data collection, and science. The law also requires that Washington must recommend an approach to marine spatial planning through an interagency team with a report due to the Washington Legislature by December 15, 2010. Hennessey provided a break down of the different steps that will be taken to put this report together as she herself heads up this coordinated interagency effort. She emphasized that throughout the process of finalizing the “report” there will be ample outreach and opportunities for public input.
County updates
Garrett Dalan, Coordinator for the Grays Harbor County Marine Resources Committee provided project updates and a status report to attendees on first year accomplishments. The Board, which was appointed by county commissioners back in March 2009, has succeeded with a number of local projects including two locally held public forums that highlighted local marine resource issues and marine spatial planning; the implementation and ongoing monitoring of several water quality testing sites with a focus on shellfish health; and they assisted with funding and volunteers for a teacher/student ocean education program with the Grays Harbor College Coastal Learning Resources Center. In addition a very successful NOAA sponsored Coastal Community Planning and Development workshop was held to get coastal planners, developers, and concerned citizens together in looking at and planning for future growth in Grays Harbor with a follow up being planned for fall 2010. The Marine Resources Committee is aimed at engaging local citizens to set priorities and design projects of local importance to help protect and restore the marine environment and Dalan encouraged participants to attend their monthly public meetings which allow for active participation and public comment at each.
The night commenced with lively round table discussions and public comments. To learn more about these topics or to become involved with the Grays Harbor Resources Committee visit the following links:
State Ocean Caucus: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/ocean/meetings.html or you may contact jen461@ecy.wa.gov.
Washington Forum on Marine Spatial Planning Full Report: http://www.co.grays-harbor.wa.us/info/pub_svcs/MRC/Docs/MSPWashingtonForum20091020.pdf
Grays Harbor County Marine Resources Committee:http://ghmrc.org.
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