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We engage our community to create productive partnerships to support ecosystems and communities.

The Ocean Acidification Program forges partnerships across the scientific community and communities impacted by ocean acidification to meet our common mission. Read more about our involvement or jump to a section with the links below: 

Engage with Us

The NOAA Ocean Acidification Working Group facilitates coordination among NOAA programs and partners.

The NOAA Ocean Acidification Program exists to meet the ocean acidification research and monitoring needs of the United States. However,  coordinating closely with entities both within and outside NOAA increases efficiency and effectiveness. Within NOAA, the NOAA Ocean Acidification Working Group (NOAWG) facilitates these close working relationships.

Partners News

Read about our latest collaborative activities and accomplishments. 

Communities of Practice

Coastal Acidification Networks

OAP works closely with coastal on-the-ground networks to build scientific capacity and develop regionally relevant responses to ocean and coastal acidification.
Photo Credit: Susan McLean

Click a logo below for details of each Coastal Acidification Partner.

Join a regional CAN to connect with other ocean users and take the opportunity to get involved with ocean acidification solutions.

Coastal Acidification Networks (CANs) are regional networks of diverse ocean users interested in addressing ocean and coastal acidification in the United States. CANs play a critical role in supporting regional monitoring, community engagement, and capacity building and sharing on topics relevant to ocean and coastal acidification, including adaptation and mitigation strategies and state action planning. 


The CANs work at the intersection of science, policy, industry, and education and outreach. They bring together researchers, industry, state agencies, educators and others to leverage expertise and collectively address common challenges and develop locally relevant adaptive strategies to ocean acidification. The CANs are embedded in the regional associations of
Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) and Regional Ocean Partnerships and operate with funding support from NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program as well as other state and federal grants.

Our federal partners in ocean acidification research meet officially through the IWG-OA, which NOAA chairs.

The Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act (FOARAM), called for the Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology to establish an Interagency Working Group on Ocean Acidification (IWG-OA). The IWG-OA advises and assists the Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology on matters related to ocean acidification, including coordination of Federal activities on ocean acidification and other interagency activities as outlined in FOARAM. These agencies have come together to provide a thoughtful, strategic approach to understand and address the rapidly emerging problem of ocean acidification. 

Read More about the IWGOA >

The Ocean Acidification Information Exchange

Ocean and coastal acidification are working together by joining the Ocean Acidification Information Exchange, an online community that connects members from different regions and disciplines.

The site’s goal is to foster collaboration and make it easy to learn from each others’ diverse experiences, which is why the platform is both a discussion forum and a repository for information. Members post questions, updates, documents, videos, photos, links, and events, and tag posts with topic keywords to streamline searching. Ocean Acidification Information Exchange (OAIE) members can join teams that align with their interests and engage not only with the entire community, but also with smaller groups of peers. There are currently sixteen individual teams set up around topics such as “Policy and Resource Management” and “Local Action,” along with regions such as the Southeast, Pacific Islands, and California Current.

The OAIE encourages scientists, educators, students, members of the aquaculture and fishing industry, non-profit and government employees, managers, policy makers, and concerned citizens to request an account and join the conversation.

Our Global Network

The Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON)

The Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON) works toward coordinating ocean acidification monitoring globally.

Our Partners

Cooperative Institutes
Modeling & Forecasting
MONITORING & OBSERVING
BIOLOGICAL RESPONSE & IMPACTS
INTEGRATED OCEAN OBSERVING SYSTEMS
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

Coastal State Governments, Regional Networks, Industries & NGOs

The OAP works closely with coastal state governments, on-the-ground networks, industries, and NGOs to develop their responses to ocean acidification

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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

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

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

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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