Support The Wire

Panel Begins Work on Recommendations to Respond to Ocean Acidification

The Governor’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Ocean Acidification held its second meeting on Wednesday.  The meeting was a webinar covering subjects from current state and federal ocean monitoring programs, to mitigation, adaption, and remediation strategies.

Ryan Kelley from the Center for Ocean Solutions at Stanford University noted that, “Washington is the undisputed leader on state action to address ocean acidification.”  Nonetheless, as part of her initiative to protect and expand the shellfish industry in Washington State, Governor Gregoire convened the Blue Ribbon Panel to make recommendations, “regarding additional research and monitoring needs and actions to understand, prevent/mitigate, and adapt to acidification of Washington State marine waters.”

Panel member and Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark cautioned the Panel to remember the focus on shellfish, as some of the presentations touched on much wider agendas.

The Panel hopes to develop recommendations by August 1 and submit a final report by October 1.  The next meeting is scheduled for May 23rd.

For meeting powerpoints and additional information on ocean acidification and the Panel go to http://www.ecy.wa.gov/water/marine/oceanacidification.html .


Your support matters.

Public service journalism is important today as ever. If you get something from our coverage, please consider making a donation to support our work. Thanks for reading our stuff.