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Supporting Tribal Ocean Acidification Monitoring Programs

Spruce Island in the Kodiak region of Alaska. Bull kelp at water's surface with island in the background. Ocean acidification monitoring in this region helps prepare Kodiak Tribes for the impacts of ocean change. Credit: NOAA
Spruce Island in the Kodiak region of Alaska. Ocean acidification monitoring in this region helps prepare Kodiak Tribes for the impacts of ocean change.
  • Principal Investigator(s): Jake Cohen
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2023

Why we care
Alaskan Native communities rely on healthy marine ecosystems for work, sustenance and their way of life. Ocean acidification has documented impacts to marine life and these communities. Community members participate in ocean acidification monitoring and we need to better understand how to meet community needs and fill important monitoring gaps. Monitoring has been intermitten since 2017 and this work will aid in sustaining this work.

NOAA Ocean Acidification supports workforce development through funding a fellow for this project with the 2023 Alaska Sea Grant State Fellowship Program.

What we will do
Jake Cohen is an Alaska Sea Grant fellow partnering with the Kodiak Area Native Association (KANA) and Kodiak tribes to support tribal ocean acidification (OA) monitoring programs. Since 2019, several Kodiak tribes monitor for ocean acidification as part of a statewide community sampling project. However, this program has faced many obstacles and involved communities have not been able to fully utilize their data. In collaboration with KANA, Jake will develop a long-term monitoring strategy for Kodiak Archipelago Tribes and gather data for use in climate and economic adaptation plans.

Much of this effort involves strengthening the collaborative nature of the ocean acidification sampling program by connecting with project partners including AOOS, NOAA, Alaska Sea Grant, Sitka Tribe of Alaska, Kodiak tribes, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Fisheries and Ocean Science. By increasing inter-agency collaboration and centering the use of ocean acidification data for subsistence and economic use, Cohen will help create a robust tribal sampling plan. These data, combined with other water quality monitoring efforts, will help increase economic opportunity and support accessibility of traditional food resources. Additionally, Jake will assist with a Gulf of Alaska ocean acidification regional vulnerability assessment with Alaska Sea Grant and the Alaska Fisheries Science Center.

Benefits of our work
This work will identify specific ocean acidification monitoring and support needs by Kodiak tribes and develop a long-term monitoring strategy. Additionally, it supports the career development of a fellow and increase capacity in the region. The fellow also Check out this brief ocean acidification and monitoring guide for Kodiak communities.

Meet Jake Cohen
Read Jake’s post “Research collaboration helps Kodiak subsistence harvesters” about his internship experience and the impact of Harmful Algal Blooms in Alaska.

Image: Spruce Island in the Kodiak region of Alaska. Credit: NOAA

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

Fishing nets in Alaska
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