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Research Regions

Alaska

The cold waters of the Alaska region absorb more carbon, resulting in a higher amount of ocean acidification. Studying the effects of ocean acidification in this region will help Alaskan coastal communities develop strategies to protect their livelihoods and cultural resources.

Understanding OA to protect valuable resources in Alaska

Ocean acidification (OA) poses unique economic, nutritional and societal concerns to Alaska communities. With a greater area of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) waters and a longer coastline than that of the entire contiguous U.S., monitoring ongoing ocean acidification and understanding the ecological and social consequences in Alaska represents a major challenge. Alaska fisheries accounted for more than 60% of total U.S. harvests by weight in 2016, supporting an estimated 36,800 full-time jobs and $5.2 billion in total output for the U.S. economy (2017). Acidification and other ocean change threaten these important economic and cultural resources and the well-being of Alaska communities.

The Alaska Region includes the waters of the Gulf of Alaska, Eastern Bering Sea and surrounding the Aleutian Islands. Since cold water absorbs more carbon, acidification in this region is high. Additionally, regional processes such as seasonal productivity and sea ice melt pulses contribute to acidification in this region. Some major fisheries Alaskan communities rely on are sensitive to changes in ocean chemistry.

View FULL Research Plan (PDF)

Tracking progress of ocean acidification research in Alaska

Map of Alaska Region Large Marine Ecosystem
The Alaska Region includes the waters of the Gulf of Alaska, Eastern Bering Sea and surrounding the Aleutian Islands.

The research goals in the Alaska Region are to:

  • Expand ocean acidification (OA) monitoring with both oceanographic and shore-based based observing networks to characterize seasonal cycles, regional vulnerabilities, and future regional trajectories
  • Assess sensitivity and resilience of critically important ecosystems and commercial species and use this knowledge to model and predict ecosystem-wide impacts of acidification
  • Evaluate the sensitivity of nutritionally and economically important subsistence and industry species to assess socioeconomic impacts.

The following charts represent the mid-point progress in implementing research actions that focus on the Alaska Region according to the NOAA Ocean, Coastal, and Great Lakes Acidification Research Plan.

NOAA invests in research and activities toward meeting goals that improve our ability to understand and predict environmental change, species and ecosystem to response to changing ocean chemistry, and the human impacts of these changes. The report card below summarizes progress over the past five years toward meeting these goals for the Alaska Region, measured by the number of major actions toward meeting this goal: good progress (4+ actions), some progress (1-3 actions) and no known progress.

Good overall progress

Some progress

No known progress

Environmental Change

There are eight environmental change actions: all eight have good overall progress.

Biological Sensisitivity

There are 10 biological sensitivity actions: four have good overall progress, four have made some progress and two have no known progress

Human Dimensions

There are seven human dimension actions: two have good overall progress, three have made some progress and two have no known progress.

Featured Research Projects

Environmental Change
Forecasts for Alaska Fisheries
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Biological Sensitivity
Effects of Ocean Acidification and Temperature on Alaskan crabs
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Human Dimensions
Bioeconomic Modeling to Inform Alaska Fisheries Management
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Partners in Understanding Ocean Acidification in the Alaska Region

Launched in 2016, the Alaska Ocean Acidification Network aims to expand the understanding of ocean acidification processes and consequences in Alaska, as well as potential adaptation and mitigation actions. The network is the fourth regional ocean acidification network in the U. S. The AOAN connects scientists and stakeholder communities to recommend regional priorities, share data, and determine best practices for monitoring. Among the roles of the network is hosting a comprehensive website with resources for both researchers and the general public. 

Get Involved
Alaska Ocean Acidification Network

OAP Funded Projects

Islands and land surrounded by water along the Sitka coast taken in 2023 by Mariano Mantel (Creative Commons)
4-H pH: Ocean Acidification Education in Alaska
  • PI(s): Natalie Monacci, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2024, 2025, 2026
  • Grant Award # NA24OARX017G0014-T1-01
This project creates and delivers an ocean acidification curriculum with 4-H in Sitka and Lingít Aaní Alaska to serve Alaskan youth...
Project Summary >
Calm sea with mountains on horizon and expansive sky in Ketchikan, Alaska. Credit: Phil Price, Flickr
Building Capacity for Alaskan Tribes
  • PI(s): Spencer Weinstein
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2023
This Alaska Sea Grant project increases ocean acidification monitoring capacity and assess vulnerability of Alaskan Tribes to ocean acidification...
Project Summary >
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
Supporting Tribal Ocean Acidification Monitoring Programs
  • PI(s): Jake Cohen
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2023
This work will identify specific ocean acidification monitoring and support needs by Kodiak Tribes,. Additionally, it supports the career development of an Alaska Sea Grant fellow and increase capacity in..
Project Summary >
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Latest Publications

Ocean acidification may contribute to recruitment failure of Bering Sea red king crab
Citation: Litzow, Michael & Long, W. & Palof, Katie & Pilcher, Darren. (2025). Ocean acidification may contribute to recruitment failure of Bering Sea red king crab. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 82. 1-7. 10.1139/cjfas-2024-0173.
Read Summary >
Ocean acidification thresholds for decapods are unresolved
Citation: McElhany, P. a. S. B. (2024). Ocean acidification thresholds for decapods are unresolved. Front. Mar. Sci. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2024.1449345
Read Summary >
Climatological distribution of ocean acidification variables along the North American ocean margins
  • Li-Qing Jiang, Tim P. Boyer, Christopher R. Paver, Hyelim Yoo, James R. Reagan, Simone R. Alin, Leticia Barbero, Brendan R. Carter, Richard A. Feely, Rik Wanninkhof
  • Earth System Science Data
  • July 24, 2024
Citation: Jiang, L.-Q., Boyer, T. P., Paver, C. R., Yoo, H., Reagan, J. R., Alin, S. R., Barbero, L., Carter, B. R., Feely, R. A., and Wanninkhof, R.: Climatological distribution of ocean acidification variables along the North American ocean margins, Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 16, 3383–3390, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-3383-2024, 2024.
Read Summary >
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Get involved with ocean acidification

The NOAA Ocean Acidification Program exists to meet the ocean acidification research and monitoring needs of the U.S. See how you can get involved to serve your community and participate in cutting-edge research and education and outreach. 

Get involved

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.

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

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.

More about this work

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