Ekstrom, J. A., Suatoni, L., Cooley, S. R., Pendleton, L. H., Waldbusser, G. G., Cinner, J. E., Ritter, J., Langdon, C., van Hooidonk, R., Gledhill, D. K., Wellman, K., Beck, M. W., Brander, L. M., Rittschof, D., Doherty, C., Edwards, P. E. T., Portela, R.

Vulnerability and adaptation of US shellfisheries to ocean acidification

2015

Natural Resources Defense Council; Ocean Conservancy; Duke University; Universite de Brest; Oregon State University; James Cook University; Duke University; Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science; NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory; NOAA Ocean Acidification Program; Northern Economics; The Nature Conservancy; VU University; NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program; I.M. Systems Group Inc.; Conservation International

Nature Climate Change

5

207-214

"Ocean acidification is a global, long-term problem whose ultimate solution requires carbon dioxide reduction at a scope and scale that will take decades to accomplish successfully. Until that is achieved, feasible and locally relevant adaptation and mitigation measures are needed. To help to prioritize societal responses to ocean acidification, we present a spatially explicit, multidisciplinary vulnerability analysis of coastal human communities in the United States. We focus our analysis on shelled mollusc harvests, which are likely to be harmed by ocean acidification. Our results highlight US regions most vulnerable to ocean acidification (and why), important knowledge and information gaps, and opportunities to adapt through local actions. The research illustrates the benefits of integrating natural and social sciences to identify actions and other opportunities while policy, stakeholders and scientists are still in relatively early stages of developing research plans and responses to ocean acidification."

10.1038/nclimate2508

Support provided by NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program and the National Science Foundation

NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program

National Science Foundation