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Research Regions

West Coast

The primary goal of West Coast Acidification Research is to understand how acidity affects commercially and ecologically important species in order to develop informed adaptation strategies for coastal communities.

Understanding OA to develop informed adaptation strategies

The West Coast Region includes the U.S. coastal waters off of Washington, Oregon, and California including the continental shelf and inland seas. The West Coast is a highly productive ecosystem yielding economically and culturally significant fisheries including salmon and Dungeness crab and ecologically important marine life like plankton and krill.

These waters are influenced by adjacent regions and are collectively referred to as the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME). This region is an eastern boundary current system marked by seasonal upwelling, which brings old, cold, and low-pH (more acidified), carbon-rich waters from the deep to the ocean surface. Upwelling drives significant regional pH and temperature variability. The combination of enhanced natural oceanographic processes combined with nutrient input in some coastal areas lead to a more rapid rate of acidification than in many other regions. 

Buoy in the ocean with the sunset reflecting in water
View FULL Research Plan (PDF)

Tracking progress of ocean acidification research in the West Coast

Map of North America highlighting the West Coast region
The West Coast Region includes the U.S. coastal waters off of Washington, Oregon, and California including the continental shelf and inland seas

The research goals in the West Coast Region are to:

  • Track changes in the ocean, especially in areas that depend on seafood and other important species.
  • Observe the sensitivity of marine life to changes in ocean chemistry
  • Improve the understanding of the socioeconomic risk and vulnerability of fishing and coastal communities so they can prepare for the future.

The following charts represent the mid-point progress in implementing research actions that focus on the West Coast 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 West Coast 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 nine environmental change actions: eight have good overall progress and one has made some progress.

Biological Sensitivity

There are nine biological sensitivity actions: eight have good overall progress and one has made some progress.

Human Dimensions

There are seven human dimension actions: four have good overall progress and three have made some progress.

Featured Research Projects

Environmental Change
Integrated multistressor observations, modeling and experiments to inform management in the Northern California Current
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Biological Sensitivity
Assessing ocean acidification impacts to Dungeness crab
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Human Dimensions
Ocean Acidification Sentinel Site on the Olympic Coast
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Partners in Understanding Ocean Acidification in the West Coast

The California Current Acidification Network (C-CAN) founded in 2009, is a collaboration of interdisciplinary scientists, resource managers, industry and others from local, state, federal and tribal levels dedicated to advancing the understanding of ocean acidification and its effects on the biological resources of the U. S. West Coast. The overarching goal of C-CAN is to coordinate and standardize OA measurement and data collection practices, ensuring data accessibility, utility, and application. C-CAN facilitates and enhances communications and research collaborations among scientists, academia, agencies and industry.

Get Involved

OAP Funded Projects

Haystack Rock on Cannon Beach, Oregon (2024). Credit: Kevin Crosby (Creative Commons)
SMILE: Ocean Acidification Education Program
  • PI(s): Jay Well, Oregon State University
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2024, 2025, 2026
  • Grant Award # NA25OARX017G0003-T1-01
This project seeks to address gaps in ocean and environmental education and improve outcomes for Oregon’s youth through the Oregon State University’s Science Math Investigative Learning Experiences (SMILE) Program...
Project Summary >
California's Humboldt coast as seen from a high vantage near sunset. Fog lingers above the King Range National Conservation Area. Credit: Guest photographer Bob Wick for CA Bureau of Land Management
Broadening Ocean Acidification Teaching and Learning (BOATL)
  • PI(s): Julie Van Sickle, Natural History Museum of Cal Poly Humboldt, Jeffrey White, Cal Poly Humboldt
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2024, 2025, 2026
  • Grant Award # NA25OARX017G0005-T1-01
Broadening Ocean Acidification Teaching and Learning (BOATL) offers teacher professional development and ocean acidification science education to schools and local Tribes...
Project Summary >
Secluded beach with tide pools and algae covered rock formations captured soon after sunrise, Half Moon Bay, California, USA. Credit: Jan Arendtsz (Flickr, CC)
Ocean Acidification Science in Schools (OASIS)
  • PI(s): Karen Peluso-Galaviz, Marine Science Institute
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2024, 2025, 2026
  • Grant Award # NA25OARX017G0004-T1-01
This project provides a hands-on ocean and coastal acidification curriculum to students from coastal communities in Redwood City, California...
Project Summary >
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Latest Publications

Advancing an integrated understanding of land–ocean connections in shaping the marine ecosystems of coastal temperate rainforest ecoregions
  • Brian P. V. Hunt, Simone Alin, Allison Bidlack, Heida L. Diefenderfer, Jennifer M. Jackson, Colleen T. E. Kellogg, Peter Kiffney, Kyra A. St. Pierre, Eddy Carmack, William C. Floyd, Eran Hood, Alexander R. Horner-Devine, Colin Levings, Cristian A. Vargas
  • Limnology and Oceanography
  • November 18, 2024
Citation: Hunt, B. P. V., Simone Alin, Allison Bidlack, Heida L. Diefenderfer, Jennifer M. Jackson, Colleen T. E. Kellogg, Peter Kiffney, Kyra A. St. Pierre, Eddy Carmack, William C. Floyd, Eran Hood, Alexander R. Horner-Devine, Colin Levings, Cristian A. Vargas. (2024). Advancing an integrated understanding of land–ocean connections in shaping the marine ecosystems of coastal temperate rainforest ecoregions. Limnology and Oceanography. https://doi.org/doi: 10.1002/lno.12724
Read Summary >
Shellfisheries’ adaptation to ocean acidification in OR and CA: Linking strategies to strategic policy action
Citation: Erika Allen Wolters, Melissa Ward, Ana K. Spalding, Arielle Levine, Kristen Marie Green, Ryan Hasert, Charlotte M. Regula-Whitefield, Kevin M. Johnson. Shellfisheries’ adaptation to ocean acidification in OR and CA: Linking strategies to strategic policy action. Marine Policy (171). 106484. January 2025.
Read Summary >
Nearshore microbial communities of the Pacific Northwest coasts of Canada and the U.S.
  • Linda D. Rhodes, Nicolaus G. Adams, Ramon Gallego Simon, Maria T. Kavanaugh, Simone R. Ali, Richard A. Feely
  • Frontiers in Marine Science
  • September 4, 2024
Citation: Rhodes Linda D. , Adams Nicolaus G. , Gallego Simon Ramon , Kavanaugh Maria T. , Alin Simone R. , Feely Richard A., Nearshore microbial communities of the Pacific Northwest coasts of Canada and the U.S., Frontiers in Marine Science, Volume 11, 2024, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2024.1430930
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

Integrated multistressor observations, modeling and experiments to inform management in the Northern California Current

Researcher showing the underside of a Dungeness Crab
Image Credit: Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary

Ocean acidification, hypoxia, marine heatwaves and harmful algal blooms are leading environmental stressors in the northern California Current Ecosystem, impacting ecosystems, fisheries, aquaculture and human communities. This project constructs a comprehensive synthesis of multi-stressor exposure using the region’s extensive ocean observing assets to characterize real-world conditions. Modeling will then characterize future dynamics for these multi-stressors. Finally, this project integrates information on the response of Dungeness crab and krill to these multi-stressors to help fisheries, state and Tribal resource managers prepare for changing ocean conditions.

This project is supported by CPO, IOOS, NCCOS, NMS, NOAA and OAP.

More about this project

Assessing ocean acidification impacts to Dungeness crab

Dungeness crab in a crab hold
Image credit: Austin Trigg, NMFS

The Dungeness crab fishery is the most valuable on the U.S. West Coast. With demonstrated sensitivity to ocean acidification at early life stages, this ecologically and economically important crab and the communities that depend on the fishery may be at risk. This project further investigates the physical and developmental effects of ocean acidification and compares individuals from different populations. Findings helped assess differences in vulnerabilities in the region and build knowledge of the underlying variability necessary to craft an adaptive response to ocean acidification.

This project is supported by NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center and the Ocean Acidification Program.

More about this project

Ocean Acidification Sentinel Site on the Olympic Coast

Waves splashing on the sounds of the Olympic Coast
Image credit: Crew and Officers of NOAA Ship FAIRWEATHER

NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries established the Ocean Acidification Sentinel Site (OASeS) off the Olympic coast in Washington in 2019 after extensive coordination with tribal and state representatives, the Olympic Coast Sanctuary Advisory Council and scientists working in the region. OASeS focuses research, monitoring, outreach and public engagement related to ocean acidification and related issues, such as hypoxia and their impacts to natural resources, ecosystems, cultures, communities and economies of the area. It aims to inform Indigenous and other coastal communities that have high dependence on healthy ocean ecosystems and helps them prepare and adapt to ocean change.

The Sentinel Site is supported by NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuaries.

Learn about the Sentinel Site

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

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