Ocean acidification and dead zones: The science behind the headlines

COMPASS hosted a field trip to the Oregon coast for state legislators and staff to learn more about the science behind the headlines of ocean acidification and low-oxygen, or "dead", zones, particularly the effects these have on Oregon's marine resources. The day featured five Oregon scientists speaking at the Whiskey Creek Hatchery and in Pacific City. 

At the Whiskey Creek Hatchery in Netarts Bay, three speakers addressed ocean acidification and impacts on local resources.  Here is more information on ocean acidification in Oregon. 

• Mark Wiegardt (co-owner of Whiskey Creek Hatchery) discussed how larval oysters and thus, his business, have been negatively affected by local acidification changes. Although his business has been revived by working with scientists to carefully monitor local levels of ocean acidity, the long-term trend still poses challenges to successfully growing oysters.
• Burke Hales (Oregon State University, COAS) talked about the environmental drivers behind ocean acidification, and areas of scientific agreement on ocean acidification.
• George Waldbusser (Oregon State University, COAS) spoke about the negative impacts to bivalves, such as oysters, at critical life stages of development from increasingly acidified waters.

The afternoon was spent in Pacific City and featured three speakers discussing oceanographic drivers of low oxygen zones, impacts to resources, and the importance of ocean observing and other collaborative projects among scientists, agencies and fishermen.  Here is more information on hypoxia in Oregon.

• Francis Chan (Oregon State University, Zoology / PISCO) told the story of the discovery and initial research of low oxygen zones in Oregon, and the impacts of these zones on marine resources. 
• Jack Barth (Oregon State University, COAS / PISCO) illustrated the importance of an array of underwater observing instruments and the continued monitoring of oceanographic conditions relative to low-oxygen zones.
• Jeremy Childress (Oregon State University, PISCO) explained innovative approaches to research through partnerships between fishermen and scientists, providing a way to engage stakeholders and expand underwater monitoring techniques.