Opportunities for U.S. State Governments and in-Region Partners to Address Ocean Acidification through Management and Policy Frameworks

Abstract

Increasing OA, combined with other stressors like warming and loss of oxygen, threatens marine species and ecosystems, including those that sustain jobs and support coastal economies. For the last 10 years, U.S. coastal states have played a key role in responding to OA specifically. In 2019, OA practitioners from the U.S. east and west coasts assembled for a multi-day conference focused on sharing and documenting advances in OA collaborations, governance and management strategies. Since that time, conference attendees, supported by conference organizer the International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification, have worked to distill the lessons learned and to synthesize collective experiences. To assist governments, agencies, and organizations in addressing OA, this paper describes state-level efforts to develop and implement OA actions within policy and management frameworks. We outline pathways to action and illustrate approaches that link OA with climate policy and environmental management.