The Management and Policy Working Group (MPWG) provides information on ocean and coastal acidification (OCA) to inform individuals involved in OCA policy, as well as to provide a collaborative platform for these individuals. Many states across the nation have convened legislative commissions to study the effects of OCA on their resources and economies, more information on this effort can be found on the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators website. In the NECAN region, states are at different stages of legislative efforts, which have been summarized in the table below.
2019 and 2020 were rich in activities at the state level to address OCA and its impacts. Several states released reports related to OCA specifically, or included it in more general state climate action plans. The MPWG developed a summary to document recommendations related to OCA and highlight commonalities among state reports.
If you’re interested in participating in or learning more about the MPWG please contact the working group chair, Beth Turner (bethturnertrue@gmail.com).
Status of State Efforts
| State | Legislative Committee | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Maine | Commission on the Effects of Coastal & Ocean Acidification | Ongoing. Bill LD 1284 intoduced in March 2019 to create a Science and Policy Advisory Committee
The Commission Report was finished in January 2015 and the committee disbanded, although efforts are continuing through the Maine Ocean and Coastal Acidification Partnership (MOCA). |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Coastal Marine Natural Resources & Environment Commission | Permanent & Ongoing. A report was completed in December 2017 summarizing the commission’s activities and findings in 2017. |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Commission on Coastal & Ocean Acidification | In Progress. The commission bill has passed and the commission is being populated. |
| Rhode Island | The Rhode Island Commission on Ocean Acidification | Ongoing. The commission is meeting approximately monthly. The RI bill can be found here. |
| Connecticut | N/A | N/A. |
| New York | Ocean Acidification Task Force | Ongoing. A NY State Senate bill passed in December 2016 to create an ocean acidification task force. In August 2018 the fourteen members of the task force were announced and information on the task force meetings can be found here. |
Northeast News
| State | News |
|---|---|
| Maine | March 2019: Bangor Daily News: “Casco Bay Advocates at the Cutting Edge of Research, Call for New Statewide Advisory Group”
June 2017: Bangor Daily News: “Lobsterman lawmaker wants $3 million Maine bond to fight ocean acidity” October 2015: Portland Press Herald: “Maine isn’t doing enough to protect Gulf from effects of climate change” June 2014: Portland Press Herald: “Maine to study impact of ocean acidification on shellfish” |
| Massachusetts | February 2018: TalkingFish.org: “Ocean Acidification Threatens Our Shellfish” |
| Rhode Island | January 2016: ecoRI News: “Oceanic acid trip bad for business” |
| New York | August 2018: DEC Announces NY Ocean Acidification Task Force to Evaluate Impacts on State’s Coastal Waters
December 2016: The New York State Senate: “New law creating ocean acidification task force leads the nation” |
National News
| State | News |
|---|---|
| National | October 2019: Bipartisan US Senate bill would renew funding for acidification research
June 2018: National Estuaries and Acidification Act (NEAR Act) Introduced December 2017: Coastal Communities Ocean Act Introduced |
| Maryland | January 2014: Maryland Ocean Acidification Task Force created |
| Alaska | November 2018: Alaska Ocean Acidification Network: Annual update of state of ocean acidification science in Alaska |
| California | January 2019: Illustrating ocean acidification impacts to California’s living marine resources |
| Oregon | August 2017: Oregon Declares Ocean Acidification a State Priority in Recently Enacted Bill, SB 1039 |
Policy Resources
- Ocean and Coastal Acidification and the MA Shellfish Industry
- U.S. Conference of Mayors Pass Resolution to Fight Ocean Acidification
- National Caucus of Environmental Legislators Efforts on Ocean Acidification
Workshop Reports
- NECAN/NROC Ocean and Coastal Acidification Monitoring Workshop Report (December 1, 2017)
Meeting Notes
- May 15, 2023
- January 22, 2021
- November 17, 2020
- December 9, 2019
- October 15, 2019
- August 9, 2019
- June 17, 2019
- April 16, 2019
- February 11, 2019
- October 9, 2018
- July 11, 2018
- April 13, 2018
- February 5, 2018
- December 12, 2017
- September 12, 2017
- June 29, 2017
- May 17, 2017
- April 6, 2017
- March 13, 2017
- February 9, 2017
- January 12, 2017
- December 1, 2016
- October 27, 2016
- September 29, 2016
- April 11, 2016
- December 8, 2015
- November 3, 2015
- October 7, 2015
- September 2, 2015
Did we miss some policy relevant information? Let us know at necan_policywg@neracoos.org