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Research to Resilience:
OAP’s FY25 Impact on ocean, coasts and Great Lakes acidification

Ocean acidification solutions

Wastewater treatment plants as seen from above look like circular holding ponds.
Eelgrass can be seen rooted to the sediment below the shallow water surface. There are patches of bare sediment visible.
Fisherman pulling up sugar kelp. Seaweed cultivation may be one avenue for marine carbon dioxide removal and mitigating ocean acidification. Credit: GreenWave/Ron Gautreau.
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Overview
Research and monitoring that serve communities
Tracking our changing ocean
Understanding what's at risk
Increasing capacity to build resilience
Ocean acidification solutions

Ocean acidification is happening now and people are already seeing impacts to marine species, ecosystems, and their livelihoods. Part of preparing and adapting to the impacts of ocean acidification is providing information that can inform mitigating or adaptive solutions and assess the efficacy and safety of such approaches. In addition to the science serving people and communities, tools to track ocean change, and what’s at risk, marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) research advances our understanding of these approaches as potential local mitigation for ocean acidification. 

mCDR by the Numbers

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Field Trials of mCDR Approaches
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Ocean acidification mitigation approach passes a first, small-scale test

In FY25, scientists from NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, the University of Washington, and the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) partnered with Ebb Carbon to complete a small-scale field trial of an electrochemical ocean alkalinity enhancement in Sequim Bay, Washington. This method separates acid from seawater, adding alkalinity before returning the treated water to the ocean via an existing outfall to mitigate local acidity. Across two experiments in November 2024 and February 2025, the team increased the volume of treated water seven-fold (from 7,000 gallons (equivalent to a tanker truck) to 47,000 gallons (a community pool) while maintaining environmental compliance. Monitoring showed the chemical signal of the treated water was highly localized, dissipating within about eight feet of discharge, with no detectable changes to surrounding water temperature, salinity, or dissolved oxygen. These results demonstrate the feasibility of monitoring small-scale alkalinity releases in dynamic coastal environments and provide a baseline for evaluating the safety and effectiveness of larger-scale application for mitigating ocean acidification.

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More about marine carbon dioxide removal research
Sequim Bay

Advancing data management for mCDR

There is now a new metadata template for mCDR data in the Ocean Carbon and Acidification Data System (OCADS).

NOAA and nonprofit Carbon to Sea Initiative partner on marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) data management. The new Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to develop data management guidelines for mCDR was announced November 19, 2024. The three-year partnership will focus on developing community-led best practices for consistent metadata, data templates, and controlled vocabularies to promote transparency, knowledge sharing and responsible management. These practices will make comparison among studies and activities more feasible. 

The Ocean Carbon and Acidification Data System now houses a new metadata template for managing marine carbon dioxide removal data.
Increasing capacity to build resilience

Bioeconomic modeling to inform Alaska fisheries management

Fishing Dock in Juneau Alaska
Image credit: Allen Shimada, NOAA NMFS

Bioeconomic models are a multidisciplinary tool that use oceanography, fisheries science and social science to assess socioeconomic impacts. Funded by the Ocean Acidification Program, researchers at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center use a bioeconomic model to study the impacts of ocean acidification on Eastern Bering Sea crab, northern rock sole and Alaska cod. The goal is to predict how ocean acidification will affect abundance yields and income generated by the fisheries. This work informs the potential economic impacts of ocean acidification and future decision making and research planning.

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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.

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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