KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
Concern about ocean acidification seems to be increasing in Alaska. In 2010 the University of Alaska Fairbanks established the Ocean Acidification Research Center. Last fall 18 U.S. Senators- including Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski from Alaska- founded the Senate Oceans Caucus. Their first presenter at their first meeting was Dr. Jeremy Mathis, the director of the research center.
Now a cultural anthropologist is the latest to weigh in on the ocean acidification conversation. Over the winter the Alaska Marine Conservation Council held roundtable discussions in Homer, Kodiak and Dillingham to better understand what fishermen already know about acidification. Rachel Donkersloot was hired by the council to take what was discussed and identify the most pressing concerns.
Concern about ocean acidification seems to be increasing in Alaska. In 2010 the University of Alaska Fairbanks established the Ocean Acidification Research Center. Last fall 18 U.S. Senators- including Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski from Alaska- founded the Senate Oceans Caucus. Their first presenter at their first meeting was Dr. Jeremy Mathis, the director of the research center.
Now a cultural anthropologist is the latest to weigh in on the ocean acidification conversation. Over the winter the Alaska Marine Conservation Council held roundtable discussions in Homer, Kodiak and Dillingham to better understand what fishermen already know about acidification. Rachel Donkersloot was hired by the council to take what was discussed and identify the most pressing concerns.
"Trying to identify what people want to know and what they need to know, what they would like to know. These are the people who are going to be most affected by changes stemming from ocean acidification, so I think there is real value in that. In addition, I think just bringing people together. There’s an education component, there’s a communication component that I think has real value to it as well, just advancing the dialogue."
Oceans become more acidic as they absorb carbon dioxide. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, some studies already show that a more acidic environment has a negative affect on what are called "calcifying species," such as oysters, clams and sea urchins. Donkersloot says fishermen want more of this kind of research and they want to know what it means for their livelihoods and their communities.
"One of the key findings was just a real need for more research. There’s still a lot of uncertainty surrounding what ocean acidification actually means for our economies and communities that are dependant on our marine resources, so that was a big one. People want to know more. There’s a lot of factors, there’s a lot of concern, there’s a lot of threats that our fishing communities have to face today and ocean acidification is one of them but it’s not the most tangible at this point. People tend to invest their resources in what they perceive to be the most direct threat and because there’s kind of a lack of basic research surrounding ocean acidification there’s a still lot of questions remaining for what it actually means for these places."
The report was submitted as a supplement to the 2013 National Climate Assessment. The assessment is aggregated every four years and is submitted to Congress and the President. Donkersloot says she hopes that her report ensures that the needs and concerns of Alaska’s seafood industry are taken into consideration in future talks at the federal level about ocean acidification.You can read the report here .
