STATEMENT: New Ocean Acidification Legislation Introduced to Protect America’s Coastal Communities

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1), and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced a bill yesterday to help America’s coastal communities better understand and respond to the impacts associated with ocean acidification. The Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act would require NOAA to conduct risk assessments that assess the social and economic vulnerabilities coastal communities face because of ocean acidification. Along with Representative Pingree and Senator Murkowski, original cosponsors of these bills included Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Representative Francis Rooney (R-FL-19), Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA-2), Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), Representative Peter King (R-NY-2), Representative Don Young (R-AK), and Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA-5). The following statement was issued by Sarah Cooley, Ph.D., Director of Ocean Conservancy’s Ocean Acidification Program:

“We’ve already seen how ocean acidification can drastically impact ocean resources on which coastal communities depend. These assessments will take us a step further in understanding the nature of those risks. Vulnerability assessments help identify the knowledge gaps where further research could be most useful, and they show whether adaptation strategies can be put into place to help these communities

“Leaders on both sides of the aisle, at all levels of government, and on all coasts recognize the importance of preparing their communities for the impacts of ocean acidification. Millions of jobs and livelihoods, cultures, and ways of life depend on ocean resources that may be affected by ocean acidification. Ocean Conservancy is proud to support this legislation, and thank you to Rep. Pingree,Sen. Murkowski, and the original cosponsors of these bills for leading the way on forward-looking stewardship so that we can all work together to help confront the effects of changing ocean chemistry.”

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Sarah Cooley is available for interviews upon request.

Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.