California's First Legislative Hearing on Acidification
California Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water met January 26 for an oversight hearing, “Science and Policy Update on Ocean Acidification – the “Evil Twin†of Climate Change,†marking the first legislative hearing on ocean acidification. Ali Boehm, co-chair of the Panel, previewed the Panel’s work, which will be a key asset for California as it prepares to act on these issues. Read more
Introduced Bills Seek to Address Acidification and Hypoxia
This month, two bills were introduced relating to acidification and hypoxia:
SB 1363calls for seagrass restoration, highlighting the multiple benefits including sequestering carbon and mitigating hypoxia.
AB 2139 calls for the California State Water Board to amend or adopt standards to address water quality objectives relating to CO2 and pH levels in coastal waters.
West Coast Ocean Leadership Roundtable Highlights Acidification as a Regional Challenge
A West Coast Ocean Leadership Roundtable in Seattle, held by the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative, gathered representatives of all sectors from California, Washington and Oregon on January 28 to address emerging West Coast challenges and opportunities.
C-CAN "Scientists on Call" Webinar Now Available
On January 28, Panelist Jan Newton and Terry Sawyer of Hog Island Oyster Company co-presented during "Scientists on call: How aquaculturists and scientists are working together in the face of ocean acidification." They discussed approaches being used in shellfish hatcheries that allow this industry to persist despite changing ocean chemistry. “It’s useful to to the industry, but also useful to science,†says Jan. View the archived video
Thank You Ocean Report
Tessa Hill in "What is Ocean Acidification?"
Guest Dr. Tessa M. Hill, OAH Panelist and Associate Professor at the University of California-Davis, tells us about what the changes in ocean chemistry mean to the health of the ocean and to all of us.
"Changing Ocean Conditions and Emerging Legal Challenges Along the California Coastline"
The 2016 UC Davis Environmental Law Symposium will explore critical issues of California’s coastline, rivers, and near-shore ocean environment by bringing together legal and policy authorities, including a Panel discussion on acidification featuring Panelist John Largier and Jennifer Phillips of the Ocean Protection Council. Info and RSVP
Panel in the News
Obama Honors Tessa Hill as Extraordinary Early-Career Scientist | UC DAVIS
President Obama named UC Davis' Tessa Hill, and OAH Panelist, a recipient of a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. Read more
Ocean 'Dead Zones' Coming, Study Finds | COURTHOUSE NEWS
"Global change is already upon us," study co-author Dr. George Somero told Courthouse News. "We're already seeing effects of acidification and hypoxia [low oxygen levels in the ocean] in a number of biological systems and processes." Read more
Protecting our oceans must be priority for president, Congress | THE SEATTLE TIMES
"No matter who holds power in Washington, D.C., it is clear that coastal changes are rapidly reaching the point where they must be confronted." Read More
Calif. Lawmakers Urged to Tackle Ocean Acidity | COURTHOUSE NEWS
"It's the problem that's going to define a generation," said Dr. Alexandria Boehm, Stanford scientist and chair of the West Coast Ocean Acidification Hypoxia Science Panel. Read more
Scientists seek ways to treat acidified ocean, keep shellfish hatcheries open | KNBA NEWS
Hatcheries have a new tool to help them gauge the saturation levels in their waters. It's called a Burkelator and for the first time they can monitor the acidic levels in seawater in real time. Read more
On January 28, Panelist Jan Newton and Terry Sawyer of Hog Island Oyster Company co-presented during "Scientists on call: How aquaculturists and scientists are working together in the face of ocean acidification." They discussed approaches being used in shellfish hatcheries that allow this industry to persist despite changing ocean chemistry. “It’s useful to to the industry, but also useful to science,†says Jan. 
