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Rep. Mick Devin, left, with Dr. Scott Doney, chairman, Department of the Marine Chemistry & Geochemistry and Director WHOI Ocean and Climate Change Institute. Courtesy of Stefanie Veneziano<\/p><\/div>\n
The future of Maine\u2019s coastal economy is uncertain as the state\u2019s most valuable fisheries are at risk. Scientists, legislators and others concerned with coastal ecosystems discussed the threats of changing ocean chemistry before the first meeting of the new ocean acidification commission on Friday at the University of Maine Darling Marine Center in Walpole.<\/p>\n
Ten scientists addressed the different factors causing ocean acidification and how it affects marine ecosystems during the morning session of the meeting. If left unchecked, ocean acidification could cause major losses to shellfisheries like clams, oysters, lobsters, shrimp and sea urchins and put at risk thousands of jobs and billions of dollars to the state\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cOcean acidification is happening all over the world but nowhere are its potential impacts greater than in Maine,\u201d said Dr. Bob Steneck, a professor at the School of Marine Sciences and Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation. \u201cOur coastal ecosystem and marine resources are most at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steneck discussed how ocean acidification may be especially problematic for Maine\u2019s marine resources and how certain factors could locally reduce its effects. He pointed out that over 75 percent of the value of Maine\u2019s marine resources comes from animals with limestone shells, such as lobsters, crabs, sea urchins, clams, oysters, scallops and mussels.<\/p>\n
As Maine has the highest lobster population density in the world, the lobster industry is also at risk of ocean acidification\u2019s effects.<\/p>\n
Dr. Rick Wahle from the Darling Marine Center addressed how ocean acidification might affect the lobster industry, one of Maine\u2019s major economic drivers. Wahle said that the future of Maine\u2019s coastal economy is far from certain because different species respond to chemistry changes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the wake of depleted fisheries over the past few decades, Maine\u2019s coastal economy is now perilously dependent on the lobster fishery,\u201d said Wahle. \u201cWe need to understand ocean acidification in the context of the other stressors facing our fisheries in the coming decades.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Commission to Study the Effects of Coastal and Ocean Acidification on Commercially Harvested and Grown Species will study the negative effects of ocean acidification on the ecosystem and major inshore shellfisheries and make recommendations to the Legislature on how to address the threat.<\/p>\n
Rep. Mick Devin, D-Newcastle, introduced the law to establish the commission, which is the first of its kind on the East Coast.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m glad that we\u2019re moving in the direction of addressing this issue,\u201d said Devin, who works as a hatchery manager at the Darling Marine Center. \u201cOcean acidification is a major threat to thousands of jobs in our state and the marine economy.\u201d<\/p>\n
State Sen. Chris Johnson, D-Lincoln, said that it is important for commission members to have a full understanding of the facts as they consider what Maine can do about changing ocean chemistry.<\/p>\n
\u201cOcean acidification is a critical threat to Maine\u2019s marine resources and coastal communities,\u201d said Johnson, Senate co-chairman of the commission. \u201cI am pleased that we are kicking off our meetings with briefings from nationally and internationally recognized scientists, some of whom are doing their research right here on the coast of Maine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read more here<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Stefanie Veneziano, Maine House Democratic Office, August 17, 2014, Boothbay Register Maine is the first state on the East Coast to address threat to coastal environment, jobs The future of Maine\u2019s coastal economy is uncertain as the state\u2019s most … Continue reading