The Alaska Ocean Acidification Network hosted a workshop in Anchorage on Nov 30-Dec 1, inviting a broad audience across the state interested in ocean acidification issues.

Around 250 people joined in person or remotely. Satellite viewing sites were located in Cordova, Fairbanks, Homer, Juneau, Kodiak, Nome, Seward, Sitka, and Unalaska. The South High science bowl team and a class from Palmer High also attended.

Workshop Goals and Format 

The aim of this workshop was to educate the broader Alaska community on the processes and consequences of OA, create connections between researchers and stakeholders, and develop new ideas and partnerships to enhance monitoring and community engagement. A report on the state of the science in Alaska is underway and will be posted in January.

AGENDA

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November 30 (main day)

Welcome (Darcy Dugan, AOOS)
OA in the policy context: Remarks from Senator Murkowski (by video) and Senator Sullivan (via Alaska office director Mike Fleagle) (audio)
Ocean acidification in Alaska – OA basics, current monitoring efforts, trends, and areas of highest concern (Jessica Cross, NOAA/OARC) (ppt, video)
Discussion and questions
Community engagement and communicating OA – connecting information with stakeholders (Meg Chadsey, Washington Sea Grant) (ppt, video)
OA in the national context – federal strategy, program activities, policy initiatives – (Libby Jewett, NOAA OAP Director) (ppt, video)

Flash talks on Monitoring Projects (video from this session unavailable due to technology failure)
– Instrumenting the AK Marine Highway: Wiley Evans, Hakai Institute (ppt)
– Alutiiq Pride projects: Jeff Hetrick, Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery (ppt)
– Kachemak Bay monitoring: Angie Doroff, Kachemak Bay Research Reserve (ppt)
– New Sitka initiatives: Esther Kennedy, Sitka Tribe (ppt)
– OA kiosk & outreach – Hannah Heimbuch, Alaska Marine Conservation Council (ppt)

Flash talks on biological impacts (video for this session’s flash talks)
– Crab – Bob Foy, NOAA Kodiak Lab (ppt)
– Clams – Amanda Kelley, UAF OARC (ppt)
– Groundfish – Amanda Kelley, UAF OARC (ppt)
– Zooplankton – Dick Feely, NOAA PMEL (ppt)
OA and the shellfish industry – research/industry partnerships uncovering new insights (Burke Hales, Oregon State) (ppt, video)
OA in the Pacific Northwest – findings and lessons learned (Jan Newton, NANOOS) (ppt, video)
Forecasting and modeling ocean acidification – lessons from the Pacific Northwest and the Gulf of Alaska (Sam Siedlecki, Univ. WA) (ppt, video)
Why are Alaska waters so susceptible to OA? – (Dick Feely, NOAA PMEL) (ppt, video)
An OA adaptation strategy for Alaska – (Jeremy Mathis, NOAA) (ppt, video)
Wrap-up and interactive audience polling – (Darcy Dugan, AOOS)
Networking Reception 

December 1

Ways to engage audiences and inspire local action to address ocean acidification: techniques and tools for communicating about OA to diverse audiences, from students to community leaders to the media. We’ll also discuss ways that engaged citizens can take action on this issue, both locally and nationally as well as local stewardship projects that can help mitigate OA.  Led by Meg Chadsey from Washington Sea Grant

Expanding and leveraging the Alaska Ocean Acidification Network: Facilitated discussion and breakouts. Topics to include (1) Engaging the fishing community in ocean acidification, (2) Tribal involvement in ocean acidification monitoring, (3) Responding to ocean acidification for shellfish growers, (4) Developing Alaska-specific strategies for communicating OA to decision makers. Session descriptions. Report back (starting part-way through group #1).

Session for Researchers

Alaska OA Network Steering Committee Meeting: Review network goals, plan activities for upcoming year, discuss long term role of network, establish long-term members and a chair.

Please email network coordinator Darcy Dugan, dugan@aoos.org, with questions.