WELLFLEET, Mass., Oct. 12, 2016 – Ocean Conservancy is pleased to be a sponsor of the 16^th Annual Wellfleet OysterFest and will participate in the two-day event to highlight pressing issues like ocean acidification, marine debris and ocean planning.

Ocean Conservancy experts will speak at the following presentations and panel discussions:

What: Ocean Acidification and Ocean Planning – Two Faces of our Rapidly Changing Seas

When: Saturday, Oct. 15, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Where: Wellfleet Public Library, 55 W Main St, Wellfleet, Mass.

Who: Ryan Ono, Manager, Ocean Acidification Program, Ocean Conservancy
Contact: rono@oceanconservancy, or (310) 409-7147

Katie Morgan, Program Assistant, Ocean Planning, Ocean Conservancy
Contact: [email protected], or (240) 215-7047

Ryan Ono quote: “Ocean acidification is increasingly a concern in the Northeast,” said Ono, manager, ocean acidification program at Ocean Conservancy. “Rainfall is bringing more freshwater, which is naturally more acidic than seawater, into the coastal zone. Over the last 60 or so years, the heaviest rainfall events have produced over 70% more rain in the Northeast and, that’s no good for the flora and fauna. Add pollution from runoff and nitrogen, and you’ve got real threats to our marine environment.”

Katie Morgan quote: “The Northeast has led the nation is making ocean planning the way of the future,” said Morgan, program assistant, ocean planning program at Ocean Conservancy. “The 21st century economy depends on the ocean, and that means shipping, commercial fishing, recreational boating and offshore energy are all vying to use the same waters — along with whales, birds, sea turtles and other wildlife. Ocean planning helps reduce conflict among ocean users by involving everyone in decision-making early on while options are still fluid.”

What: Tackling Marine Pollution

When: Saturday, Oct. 15, 1 – 2:30 p.m.

Where: Wellfleet Public Library, 55 W Main St, Wellfleet, Mass.

Who: Eric DesRoberts, Manager, Trash Free Seas Program, Ocean Conservancy
Contact: [email protected], or (207) 249-5863.

Eric DesRoberts quote: “Marine debris, especially plastic marine debris, poses a considerable concern for the health of our ocean. Without intervention, the ocean could contain as much as one ton of plastics for every three tons of finfish by 2025,” said DesRoberts, manager Trash Free Seas Program. “Through Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas Program and the International Coastal Cleanup, we work with a range of partners to find scalable, actionable, science-based solutions to achieve our shared goal for a future of trash free seas.”

In addition to these speaking opportunities, Ocean Conservancy experts are available for individual interviews and will staff an informational booth at the festival with interactive, science-based materials, activities and information.

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Ocean Acidification Facts

• For nearly a decade, it has been clear that ocean acidification has the potential to alter the fabric of marine life and the communities on land that depend on a healthy ocean.
• Ocean acidity has increased by 30 percent and is expected to double over pre-industrial levels by the end of this century as a result of the ocean absorbing one-third of the atmospheric carbon dioxide generated by human activities.
• Ocean acidification adversely impacts oysters, mussels, crabs, lobster and other shellfish by slowing shell growth and also killing larvae. Tiny sea snails, known as pteropods, are also at risk and as these are a primary food source for many fish, NOAA scientists worry that ocean acidification may impact fisheries as well.
• Significant impacts on fisheries and marine ecosystems have already been documented due to ocean acidification and will likely worsen in the future.
• Pacific coast shellfish growers nearly declared bankruptcy in 2007-2008 as a result of ocean acidification killing off oyster larvae. In Washington state alone the shellfish industry contributes $272 million to the economy. In comparison, (insert NOAA talking point).
• According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Massachusetts bivalve shellfish industry produced 56 million pounds of lobster, oysters, scallops and other shellfish, worth $327 million in 2014. The seafood industry in Massachusetts employs nearly 100,000 people.
• Thanks to state and federal funding, major local progress has been made on both the east and west coasts, as communities have installed monitoring equipment to better understand acidification’s impacts on species such as oysters, clams, mussels and lobster.
• Local actions to address acidification are just as important as tackling this problem at a global scale by reducing carbon emissions, such as reducing nitrogen pollution by fixing leaking septic tanks and reducing lawn fertilizer usage.

Trash Free Seas Facts

• A study published in the journal Science in 2015 estimated that about 8 million metric tons of plastic waste flows into our ocean every year. There is already 150 million tons of plastic in the ocean and in 10 years that number reach 250 million tons.  This issue requires bold and transformative action to stem the tide of plastics going into the ocean.
• For over three decades, Ocean Conservancy has been at the forefront of tackling marine debris with the International Coastal Cleanup — the largest single-day volunteer cleanup effort in the world which takes place around the world each September. Last year, more than 18 million pounds (eight million kilograms) of trash — equivalent to the weight of more than 100 Boeing 737s — was removed by nearly 800,000 volunteers.
• This year, Ocean Conservancy proudly introduced the Clean Swell app that allows volunteers to log the trash they collect in real time. These data deliver a global snapshot of ocean trash, providing researchers and policy-makers insight to inform solutions.
• We fully recognize that cleanups alone cannot hope to stem the tide of trash. A problem of this magnitude can only be tackled through a multi-layered, systemic approach with strong allies and a bold goal — 50% reduction of plastic in the ocean by 2025.
• Through the Trash Free Seas Alliance® (an alliance of industry, NGOs, scientists and academics, we are addressing this issue at its source, specifically by analyzing land-based solutions to prevent plastics and other trash from entering the marine environment.

Ocean Planning Facts

• Over half of U.S. residents live in coastal areas. Millions of jobs and billions of dollars in commercial and recreational activity depend on a healthy ocean and coasts.
• But we are facing a rising tide of competition for our valuable marine resources. The 21st century economy depends on the ocean and that means shipping, recreational boating, commercial fishing and offshore energy are all vying to use the same waters — along with whales, birds, sea turtles and other important wildlife.
• Combined, residents and visitors to the Northeast spend roughly the equivalent of 100 million days at more than 1,000 beaches, adding a total of $10 billion to the regional economy. In Massachusetts alone, fishermen contribute nearly 275 million pounds and $525 million in commercial landings.
• That’s why Ocean Conservancy advocates for smart ocean-use planning strategies that help reduce conflict among ocean users and with the environment. By listening to the needs of all ocean users, better decisions can be made about how to preserve a thriving economy and healthy ocean. Massachusetts is a leader in advancing these smart planning policies: The Massachusetts Ocean Act created one of the country’s first ocean plans for state waters, and Massachusetts helped drive the nation’s first-ever ocean plan for federal waters, which was just released this summer and covers waters from Connecticut to Maine.
• Ocean plans developed by the Northeast Regional Planning Body and by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Body are supported by publicly accessible web portals that feature thousands of detailed, interactive maps that show key ocean uses. To access these portals go to: http://www.northeastoceandata.org/ and http://midatlanticocean.org/data-portal/.
• Smart, balanced choices through comprehensive ocean planning helps these ocean industries thrive by avoiding potential conflicts: Ship pilots are able to navigate safely around right whale feeding grounds, and fishermen are able to protect their access to key fishing grounds as tidal power projects move forward.

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