The U.S. west coast shellfish industry's perception of and response to ocean acidification

Although state lines determine regulations within the U.S. west coast shellfish industry, we found that stakeholder perspectives were not influenced by state boundaries. Our findings reflect all three states and all types of shellfish producers: (1) Approximately half of the industry has personally experienced negative impacts from ocean acidification. (2) The vast majority believes OA is happening globally, regionally, and locally. (3) The shellfish industry's understanding of OA and concern for the problem is fairly advanced. (4) Industry participants and OA researchers share comparable recognition of the timescales in which natural processes change nearshore water chemistry, highlighting coherence between the groups based on vastly different approaches and backgrounds. (5) Greater than 80 percent of the shellfish industry noted that OA will have consequences today, approximately four times higher than the public's perception of the threat. The contrasting levels of concern for OA consequences between industry and the public appears to be driven by differences in economic investment in natural resources and perceived and realized impacts. (6) The most useful information to inform shellfish business decisions is primarily obtained locally and through straightforward resources. Tide charts are the most useful information source, followed by interactions with other shellfish operations and on-site measurements/observations. (7) Measurements of water chemistry related to ocean acidification, such as pH, appear to be more useful to hatcheries than to growers. (8) There is great potential for further partnership and data sharing between scientists and industry. However, barriers do exist and should be addressed. (9) Participants from all three states expressed guarded optimism on adaptability to ocean acidification., This archived document is maintained by the State Library of Oregon as part of the Oregon Documents Depository Program. It is for informational purposes and may not be suitable for legal purposes., Includes bibliographical references (pages 19-21)., This report was prepared by Oregon Sea Grant under award number NA10OAR4170059 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Sea Grant College Program, U.S. Department of Commerce, and by appropriations made by the Oregon State Legislature.
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This archived document is maintained by the State Library of Oregon as part of the Oregon Documents Depository Program. It is for informational purposes and may not be suitable for legal purposes.
Abstract/Description: Although state lines determine regulations within the U.S. west coast shellfish industry, we found that stakeholder perspectives were not influenced by state boundaries. Our findings reflect all three states and all types of shellfish producers: (1) Approximately half of the industry has personally experienced negative impacts from ocean acidification. (2) The vast majority believes OA is happening globally, regionally, and locally. (3) The shellfish industry's understanding of OA and concern for the problem is fairly advanced. (4) Industry participants and OA researchers share comparable recognition of the timescales in which natural processes change nearshore water chemistry, highlighting coherence between the groups based on vastly different approaches and backgrounds. (5) Greater than 80 percent of the shellfish industry noted that OA will have consequences today, approximately four times higher than the public's perception of the threat. The contrasting levels of concern for OA consequences between industry and the public appears to be driven by differences in economic investment in natural resources and perceived and realized impacts. (6) The most useful information to inform shellfish business decisions is primarily obtained locally and through straightforward resources. Tide charts are the most useful information source, followed by interactions with other shellfish operations and on-site measurements/observations. (7) Measurements of water chemistry related to ocean acidification, such as pH, appear to be more useful to hatcheries than to growers. (8) There is great potential for further partnership and data sharing between scientists and industry. However, barriers do exist and should be addressed. (9) Participants from all three states expressed guarded optimism on adaptability to ocean acidification.
Subject(s): n-us---
Ocean acidification -- Pacific Coast (U.S.) -- Public opinion
Shellfish -- Effect of water acidification on -- Pacific Coast (U.S.) -- Public opinion
Shellfish trade -- Pacific Coast (U.S.)
Shellfish fisheries -- Pacific Coast (U.S.) -- Employees -- Attitudes
Date Issued: 2016