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OA adaptation strategies for shellfish aquaculture in the Chesapeake Bay

A satellite map of the Chesapeake Bay region. The waterways are color coded to show degrees of alkalinity, with the general trend of higher alkalinity upriver and lower alkalinity toward the ocean.
This map of alkalinity in the Chesapeake Bay region provides oyster growers information on water conditions. Credit: Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences
  • Principal Investigator(s): Emily Rivest, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028

Integrating exposure and community vulnerability to develop adaptation strategies to mitigate acidification impacts in the Chesapeake Bay region

Why we care
Shellfish aquaculture in the Chesapeake Bay (CB) has grown rapidly in recent decades and plays a significant part of the local and regional economy. CB also leads the East Coast in production and farm gate value. Beyond the market value of CB shellfish, there is a great deal of interest in the services that these shellfish provide including those that improve water quality. This project assesses community-level vulnerability in aquaculture production to ocean and coastal acidification risks across Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay and its Atlantic seaside. 

What we will do
The research team seeks to understand how exposure risk varies across these three distinct ecoregions and create a dashboard for interested users. This work will leverage previously produced models for water conditions and clam and oyster growth along with monitoring data. The team will incorporate socioeconomic and community data as well as interviews with industry and community leaders. They will assess how community vulnerability varies across the three regions and how vulnerability influences the way people respond to future changes in exposure and shellfish production. This work aims to identify the needs of the shellfish industry and meaningful adaptive actions to increase community resilience to ocean and coastal acidification. 

Benefits of our work
The resulting dashboard will allow shellfish growers and harvesters to assess possible impacts of future ocean and coastal acidification and co-stressors like temperature and salinity on spatial scales relevant to them within this aquaculture and shellfish-rich region. The dashboard will also feature real-time information for today and five-day forecasts for water conditions and shellfish growth. The research team will develop possible adaptation responses and best practices for mitigation of acidification, complete with strategies and recommendations on the dashboard. The findings will also inform the implementation of recommendations within Virginia’s Ocean Plan.

Resources
Previous RVA project
Virginia Sea Grant
Mid-Atlantic Coastal Acidification Network

Investigators
Emily Rivest, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Adriane Michaelis, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Pierre St-Laurent, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Marjy Friedrichs, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Mark Brush, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
David Wrathall, Oregon State University
William Isenberg, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

Advisory Committee
Amy Freitag, NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)
Rich Harding, Purcell’s Seafood
Will Isenberg, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Alex Lambert, Lambert Shellfish
Roland Lusk, Sweet Lulu Seafood
Kellen Singleton, Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission

Collaborators
Aaron Bever, Anchor QEA
Amy Freitag, NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)
Karen Hudson, Virginia Sea Grant, Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Effects of ocean acidification and temperature on Alaskan crabs

Red King Crab
Image credit: David Csepp, NMFS AKFSC ABL

Long-term declines of red king crab in Bristol Bay, Alaska may be partially attributed to ocean acidification conditions. These impacts may be partially responsible for the fishery closures during the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 seasons. Researchers found that ocean acidification negatively impacts Alaskan crabs generally by changing physiological processes, decreasing growth, increasing death rates and reducing shell thickness. Funded by the Ocean Acidification Program, scientists at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center continue to investigate the responses of early life history stages and study the potential of various Alaska crabs to acclimate to changing conditions. Results will inform models that will use the parameters studied to predict the effects of future ocean acidification on the populations of red king crab in Bristol Bay as well as on the fisheries that depend on them. Fishery managers will better be able to anticipate and manage stocks if changing ocean chemistry affects stock productivity and thus the maximum sustainable yield.

More about this work

Forecasts for Alaska Fisheries

Crab pots and fishing nets in Alaska's Dutch Harbor
Image credit: Michael Theberge

Understanding seasonal changes in ocean acidification in Alaskan waters and the potential impacts to the multi-billion-dollar fishery sector is a main priority. Through work funded by NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program, the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory developed a model capable of depicting past ocean chemistry conditions for the Bering Sea and is now testing the ability of this model to forecast future conditions. This model is being used to develop an ocean acidification indicator provided to fisheries managers in the annual NOAA Eastern Bering Sea Ecosystem Status Report.

ADAPTING TO OCEAN ACIDIFICATION

The NOAA Ocean Acidification Program (OAP) works to prepare society to adapt to the consequences of ocean acidification and conserve marine ecosystems as acidification occurs. Learn more about the human connections and adaptation strategies from these efforts.

Adaptation approaches fostered by the OAP include:

FORECASTING

Using models and research to understand the sensitivity of organisms and ecosystems to ocean acidification to make predictions about the future, allowing communities and industries to prepare

Closeup of oysters cupped in someone's hands

MANAGEMENT

Using these models and predictions as tools to facilitate management strategies that will protect marine resources and communities from future changes

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

Developing innovative tools to help monitor ocean acidification and mitigate changing ocean chemistry locally

REDUCING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT

50 more ways to reduce your carbon footprint >

On the Road

Drive fuel-efficient vehicles or choose public transportation. Choose your bike or walk! Don't sit idle for more than 30 seconds. Keep your tires properly inflated.

With your Food Choices

Eat local- this helps cut down on production and transport! Reduce your meat and dairy. Compost to avoid food waste ending up in the landfill

With your Food Choices

Make energy-efficient choices for your appliances and lighting. Heat and cool efficiently! Change your air filters and program your thermostat, seal and insulate your home, and support clean energy sources

By Reducing Coastal Acidification

Reduce your use of fertilizers, Improve sewage treatment and run off, and Protect and restore coastal habitats

TAKE ACTION WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

You've taken the first step to learn more about ocean acidification - why not spread this knowledge to your community?

Every community has their unique culture, economy and ecology and what’s at stake from ocean acidification may be different depending on where you live.  As a community member, you can take a larger role in educating the public about ocean acidification. Creating awareness is the first step to taking action.  As communities gain traction, neighboring regions that share marine resources can build larger coalitions to address ocean acidification.  Here are some ideas to get started:

  1. Work with informal educators, such as aquarium outreach programs and local non-profits, to teach the public about ocean acidification. Visit our Education & Outreach page to find the newest tools!
  2. Participate in habitat restoration efforts to restore habitats that help mitigate the effects of coastal acidification
  3. Facilitate conversations with local businesses that might be affected by ocean acidification, building a plan for the future.
  4. Partner with local community efforts to mitigate the driver behind ocean acidification  – excess CO2 – such as community supported agriculture, bike & car shares and other public transportation options.
  5. Contact your regional Coastal Acidification Network (CAN) to learn how OA is affecting your region and more ideas about how you can get involved in your community
       More for Taking Community Action