california ocean acidification action plan · 2018-08-02 · thank you for taking the time to...
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.1
CaliforniaOceanAcidificationActionPlan
August2018
![Page 2: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.2
**NOTEFORPUBLICCOMMENT**
ThankyoufortakingthetimetoreviewthedraftCaliforniaOceanAcidificationActionPlan.Thisdraftwasdevelopedbasedonawiderangeofstakeholderinputandidentifiesobjectives,strategies,andalistofactionitemsforstakeholderstocollaborativelyimplementtoreduceandpreparefortheimpactsofoceanacidification.PleasenotethattheActionPlanisstillindraftformandafinalversionwillbemadeavailableafteritsanticipatedadoptionattheOceanProtectionCouncilmeetingonOctober25,2018.Youwillnoticethattherearesectionsofthetables,calloutboxes,andappendicesthatarenotyetcomplete.Thesewillbediscussedandfurtherfleshedoutduringthefinaleditingstages.Inparticular,wearesolicitingfeedbackonthefollowing:
1. Whatareyourthoughtsonthesixoceanacidificationactionstrategies?a. Dotheyreflectyourunderstandingofwhatthestate’socean
acidificationprioritiesare/shouldbe?b. Ifnot,whatoceanacidificationactionstrategiesdoyouthinkshould
beincludedasapriorityaction?
2. Doyouthinkthefive-yeartimelinethatthesixstrategiesofthisActionPlanareorganizedaroundisanappropriateandrealistictimescaleforthisdocument?Doyouthinkitwouldbebetterifthetimeframewaslongerorshorter?
YourcommentsonthisdraftwillhelpidentifyandaddressanygapsintheActionPlansactionitemsand/orprioritystrategies,andwillultimatelyfinalizetheCaliforniaOceanAcidificationActionPlan.ThepubliccommentperiodonthedraftActionPlanisopenfromWednesday,August1throughFriday,August31,2018.Allcomments,edits,andquestionsregardingthedraftActionPlanshouldbesubmittedbyemailto:[email protected],August31,2018.OtherquestionscanbedirectedtoOceanProtectionCouncil’sClimateChangePolicyAdvisor,JennPhillips,at:[email protected]
![Page 3: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.3
TableofContents
TABLEOFCONTENTS...................................................................................................3
LISTOFFIGURESANDBOXES.......................................................................................4
LISTOFAPPENDICES....................................................................................................4
ANOCEANACIDIFICATIONACTIONPLANFORTHESTATEOFCALIFORNIA...................5WHATISOCEANACIDIFICATIONANDWHYISCALIFORNIATAKINGACTION?....................................5THESCOPEOFCALIFORNIA’SOCEANACIDIFICATIONACTIONPLAN................................................7
SIXSTRATEGIESFORACTIONONOCEANACIDIFICATION............................................16Strategy#1–PreparefortheFullRangeofOARisksandImpacts..........................16Strategy#2–ActivateResponsibleElementsofStateGovernment.........................19Strategy#3–ReducethePollutionthatCausesOA.................................................22Strategy#4–DeployLivingSystemstoSlowOAandStoreCarbon.........................27Strategy#5–BuildResilienceofAffectedCommunities,Industries,&Interests......30Strategy#6–EngageBeyondStateBoundaries.......................................................33
MOVINGFORWARDWITHBOLDACTION...................................................................37
APPENDIX1:CORRESPONDENCEOFTHECALIFORNIAACTIONPLANTOGOALSOFTHEINTERNATIONALALLIANCETOCOMBATOCEANACIDIFICATION................................38
APPENDIX2:CONSULTATIONANDREVIEWPROCESSESTHATINFORMEDTHECALIFORNIAOCEANACIDIFICATIONACTIONPLAN.....................................................39
APPENDIX3:MEASURESFORASSESSINGPROGRESSINIMPLEMENTINGTHEPLAN...43
APPENDIX4:KEYSCIENCE/TECHNOLOGYANDCOMMUNICATIONNEEDSIDENTIFIEDINTHEPLANREQUIREDTOENABLEORIMPLEMENTOAPOLICYORMANAGEMENT..47
APPENDIX5:ASCIENCEPLANTOSUPPORTIMPLEMENTATIONOFTHEACTIONPLAN..................................................................................................................................50
![Page 4: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.4
ListofFiguresandBoxesFigure1.Oceanacidification101Figure2.CaliforniaoceanacidificationpolicymilestonesFigure3.OceanacidificationispartofasystemofinteractingstressorsBox1.HowthePlanAddressesOceanAcidificationwithintheContextofOtherEnvironmentalChangesBox2.Oceanstewardship&climatechangepoliciesinCaliforniaBox3.InternationalAlliancetoCombatOceanAcidification
ListofAppendicesAppendix1:CorrespondenceoftheCaliforniaOceanAcidificationActionPlantogoals
oftheInternationalAlliancetoCombatOceanAcidificationAppendix2:ConsultationandreviewprocessesthatinformedtheCaliforniaOcean
AcidificationActionPlanAppendix3:High-levelmeasuresforassessingprogressinimplementingtheActionPlanAppendix4:Keyscience/technologyandcommunicationneedsrequiredtoenableor
implementOApolicyandmanagementAppendix5:AdetailedscienceplanforadvancingtheActionPlan’simplementation1
1Note:IndevelopmentbytheCaliforniaOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaScienceTaskForceandtobemadeavailable
![Page 5: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.5
AnOceanAcidificationActionPlanfortheStateofCaliforniaWhatisOceanAcidificationandWhyisCaliforniaTakingAction?Globalemissionsofcarbondioxide(CO2)sincethestartoftheindustrialrevolutionhavebeendrivingnotonlychangestotheEarth’sclimate,butalsofundamentalshiftstothechemistryoftheworld’soceans.TheoceansareacidifyingbecausetheyareabsorbingasignificantshareoftheCO2releasedprimarilybytheburningoffossilfuelsandchanginglanduses(Figure1).Oceanacidification(OA)affectsthehealthofmanymarineorganismsinavarietyofways,includingmakingitdifficultforcertainspeciestobuildandmaintaintheirshellsandskeletons.Becauseoftheseeffectsonmarinespecies,OAhasthepotentialtosignificantlyaltermarinefoodwebsandothercriticalecologicalprocessesthataffecttheproductivity,health,andeconomicvitalityofcoastalandmarineecosystems.2TheeffectivenessofglobaleffortstoreduceCO2emissionswilldeterminehowmuchtheoceansacidifyandtheenvironmentalandsocialdisruptionthatresults.ThedevastatingfailureofoysterhatcheriesinthePacificNorthwestbetween2006and2009signaledthefirstOA-relatedwarningsigninourregionandledtotheestablishmentofaBlueRibbonTaskForceandalandmarkOAactionplanfortheStateofWashington.3Researchandobservationssincethenhaveshownwidespreadshellcorrosionamongcertainzooplanktonandsensitivityofmanyshellfishtoacidifyingconditions,andsuggestthatcommerciallyvaluablefisheriesalongtheWestCoastcouldbeatrisk.4OAisprogressingrapidly,withaveragesurfaceacidityoftheworld’soceansexpectedtodoublefromthatofpreindustriallevelsbytheendofthiscentury.OfparticularconcerntoCaliforniapolicy-makers,scientistsexpectthewestcoastofNorthAmericatoexperiencesomeoftheearliestandmostseverechanges,becausethewind-drivenupwellingthatfuelstheregion’shighproductivityalsowillbringincreasinglyacidifiedwaterstothesurface.5
2Theworld’soceanshaveabsorbedaboutathirdoftheCO2releasedthroughhumanactivitiessincethestartofthe
industrialrevolution.CO2dissolvedinseawatergoesthroughchemicalreactionsthatcauseadeclineinpHandtheavailabilityofcarbonateminerals,andanincreaseinthepartialpressureofCO2.Thesechangescanhaveimportanteffectsonthecalcification,physiology,andbehaviorofmanymarinespeciesthatcantranslateintosystem-levelimpactsonnutrientcycling,foodwebdynamics,andecosystemprocesses.See:Somero,G.N.etal.2016.Whatchangesinthecarbonatesystem,oxygen,andtemperatureportendforthenortheasternPacificOcean:Aphysiologicalperspective.BioScience66:14-26;Klinger,T.,etal.2017.Usingintegrated,ecosystem-levelmanagementtoaddressintensifyingoceanacidificationandhypoxiaintheCaliforniaCurrentlargemarineecosystem.ElemSciAnth5:16.
3WashingtonStateBlueRibbonPanelonOceanAcidification(2012).OceanAcidification:FromKnowledgetoAction,WashingtonState’sStrategicResponse.WashingtonDepartmentofEcology.
4See:Bednaršek,N.,etal.2017.ExposurehistorydeterminespteropodvulnerabilitytooceanacidificationalongtheUSWestCoast.NatureScientificReports7:4526;Busch,S.andP.McElhany.2016.EstimatesofthedirecteffectofseawaterpHonthesurvivalrateofspeciesgroupsintheCaliforniaCurrentEcosystem.PLoSONE11(8):e0160669;Marshall,K.N.etal.2017.RisksofoceanacidificationintheCaliforniaCurrentfoodwebandfisheries:ecosystemmodelprojections.GlobalChangeBiology23:1525-1539.
5Foradditionaldetailaboutthepattern,process,andimpactsofOAseefindingsandreportsoftheWestCoastOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaPanelavailableathttp://westcoastoah.org/westcoastpanel/
![Page 6: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.6
ThescientificfoundationforthisActionPlanwaslaidbyCalifornia’spromptresponsetotheoysterhatcheryfailuresinthePacificNorthwest(Figure2).IncollaborationwithOregon,Washington,andBritishColumbia,CaliforniaspearheadedtheWestCoastOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaSciencePanel(Panel)–amulti-disciplinaryregionalefforttosynthesizethestateofknowledgeandidentifypotentialmanagementoptions.FollowingreleaseofthePanel’sfindingsin2016,theCaliforniaStateLegislaturepassedtworelatedbills(SenateBill1363andAssemblyBill2139)thatchargedtheOceanProtectionCouncil(OPC)totestpotentialOAmitigationmethods,beresponsivetothePanel’srecommendations,andensurethestatecontinuestoreceivethebestavailablescientificadvicethroughestablishmentofasciencetaskforce.6Overthepasttwoyears,theCaliforniaOceanProtectionCouncilhasmadeseveralstrategicinvestmentsinOA-relatedsciencethatisfundamentaltotakingeffectiveaction.Today,CaliforniaisactivelyparticipatinginagroundswellofinternationalactiononOA.In2016,thestatebecameoneofthefoundingmembersoftheInternationalAlliancetoCombatOceanAcidification(OAAlliance),aninternationalnetworkofmorethan60governmentsandorganizationsthathavejoinedtogethertoelevatethevisibilityofOAinpublicdiscourseandpolicydevelopmentandtopushfortheinclusionofstrongoceanprotectionprovisionsininternationalclimateagreements.7ThisActionPlanfulfillsoneofCalifornia’sobligationstotheOAAlliance,isconsistentwiththeOAAlliance’sgoals(seeAppendix1),andmayserveasamodelforother
6RecommendationsoftheearlierWestCoastOcean
AcidificationandHypoxia(OAH)PanelgenerallyfocusedonaddressinglocalfactorsthataffectOAHexposure,enhancingtheabilityofbiotatocopewithOAHstress,andexpandingandintegratingknowledgeaboutOAH.
7FormoreontheInternationalAlliancetoCombatOceanAcidificationsee:https://www.oaalliance.org.
Figure1*.Oceanacidification101.GlobalcarbonemissionsarethedominantcauseofOA,thoughlocalfactorsincludingnutrientandorganicmatterpollution,andlandusechangescanexacerbateconditionsatlocalscales.Oceanacidificationistriggeringawiderangeofmarineecosystemandcoastalcommunityimpacts.
![Page 7: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.7
jurisdictionsseekingtoundertakeconcreteactionstobetterunderstand,mitigate,andadapttoOA.TheScopeofCalifornia’sOceanAcidificationActionPlan
TheprimarypurposeofthisActionPlanistoprovidearoadmapfortheStateofCaliforniatotaketractableandstrategicactionsandmaketargetedinvestmentstoreduceandpreparefortheimpactsofOA.AlthoughitfocusesonCalifornia’sparticularneedsandopportunities,thesearecastwithinaregional,national,andinternationalcontext,whereappropriate,toachievestategoals,advanceglobaleffortsandcollaboration,andhelpotherjurisdictionsmoveforwardonthischallengingproblem.SomeactionsintheActionPlanaddressOAasastand-aloneissueandothersaddressOAwithinthecontextofotherenvironmentaldriversandchanges,asappropriatetothepolicyormanagementcircumstances(Box1).
*Figure1adaptedfromtheNatureConservancy“WashingtonandOceanAcidification”figureintheWashington2017AddendumtoOceanAcidificationhttp://oainwa.org/assets/docs/2017_Addendum_BRP_Report_fullreport.pdfFactsfrom:NOAAPMLCarbonProgram.2018.“WhatisOceanAcidification”https://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/What+is+Ocean+Acidification%3FUNESCO.2017.“Rio+20Oceans-OceanAcidification”2018.http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/ioc-oceans/focus-areas/rio-20-ocean/blueprint-for-the-future-we-want/ocean-acidification/facts-and-figures-on-ocean-acidification/PCC.2018.RepresentativeConcentrationPathways.http://sedac.ipcc-data.org/ddc/ar5_scenario_process/RCPs.html
![Page 8: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.8
Figure2.CaliforniaOApolicymilestones.SincetheoysterproductionfailuresinthePacificNorthwest,CaliforniahasparticipatedinagroundswellofactiononOAinrecentyears,includinginvestinginresearchandmonitoring,passingstatelegislation,andidentifyingscience-basedoptionstoaddressOAatregionalandlocallevels.
![Page 9: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.9
Box1:HowthePlanAddressesOceanAcidificationwithintheContextofOtherEnvironmentalChanges
Theworld’soceansareacidifyingbecausetheyareabsorbingasignificantshareoftheCO2releasedgloballythroughhumanactivities.ThepaceandintensityofOAalongtheCaliforniacoastvaries,however,fromplacetoplaceandovertime,inpartbecausetheacidificationcausedbytheabsorptionofCO2emissionsissuperimposeduponnaturallyoccurringpHvariationcausedbyupwellingandthedeliveryoffreshwaterbyriversandstreams.Also,locallygeneratedpollutionmayamplifyandspeedOAinareaswherenutrientsandorganiccarbonfromrunoffandoceandischargescauseexcessivealgalgrowthandthebreakdownofcarbon-containingmaterialsbybacteria.Theongoingandfuturechangesinoceanaciditywillhaveimportanteffectsonmarineanimalsandplantsthatcantranslateintoimpactsoncoastalandmarinefisheriesandecosystems,andthebenefitstheydelivertosociety.OAisjustoneofmanysignificantenvironmentalchangesnowoccurringalongtheCaliforniacoast,anditwillactincombinationwiththeseotherprocesses.Climatechangeisalteringtemperatureandprecipitationpatternsandoceanographicprocesses.Largerandmoreintenseregionsoflowoxygen(hypoxia)areoccurringinsomeareas.Sealevelisrisingandcoastalcommunitiesarerespondingbyrelocatingandprotectinginfrastructure.Humanusesandinputstotheoceansalsoareshifting,drivenbypopulationandlandusechange,shiftingfisheries,andnewusesoftheoceansforfood,energy,recreation,andhabitation.SomeoftheactionsidentifiedintheCaliforniaOceanAcidificationActionPlanfocusspecificallyonOA,particularlythoseseekingtoelevateattentiontoOAamongpolicy-makers,managers,andaffectedinterestsortoreducethecausesofOA.Otheractions,suchasthoserelatedassessingrisksandadaptingtoOAormanagingbiologicalresourcesaffectedbyOA,addressOAwithinthecontextofotherongoingenvironmentalchanges,becausetheeffectsofOAcannotbeconsideredormanagedseparately.Inmanycases,thestrategiesandactionsundertakentodealwithOAwillaidinaddressingotherkeychallenges,suchcopingwithcoastalhazardsandadaptingtoclimatechange.
![Page 10: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.10
Box1(con’t.):HowthePlanAddressesOceanAcidificationwithintheContextofOtherEnvironmentalChanges
Figure3.Oceanacidificationispartofasystemofinteractingstressorsfacingmarineecosystems.Effectivelyamelioratingandadaptingtochangesrequirescoordinatedactionbylivingmarineresource,water,land,andairqualitymanagers.FormoreonthescienceofOAandhowOAinteractswithotherenvironmentalchanges,seefindingsoftheWestCoastOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaPanel(http://westcoastoah.org).FigureadaptedfromOceanandCoastReport,California'sFourthClimateChangeAssessmentandQSR2010https://qsr2010.ospar.org/en/ch03_01.html
![Page 11: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.11
California’swell-establishedpoliciesforfurtheringgoodstewardshipofouroceansandaddressingclimatechangeprovideasupportiveandenablingcontextforadvancingstateactionsonOA(Box2).Manyexistingprograms,processes,andcapacitiescanbeleveragedtoadvanceactiononOA.Moreover,thestate’sexperiencesundertakinginnovativeapproachestooceanstewardshipandclimatechangedemonstrateCalifornia’sabilitytotackletough,seeminglyintractableproblems,andtheyprovideusefulinsightsandmodelsthatthisplandrawsontoimprovethespeedandeffectivenessofCalifornia’sOAactions.Theten-yearvisionthatfollowslaysoutthestate’saspirationsformakingprogressonOA.ThesixstrategiesofthisActionPlanareorganizedaroundafive-yeartimeline,withaclearrationaleandapproach,setofgoals,andmeasuresfortrackingprogressandimplementation.TheCaliforniaOceanAcidificationActionPlanispracticalanddesignedforintegrationintopublicagencyoperationsandtoinformdecisionsmadebymembersoftheprivatesectorandscientificcommunity.TheActionPlan’sdevelopmentwasinformedbyextensiveconsultationwithexpertsfromacrossocean-useindustries,stateandfederalgovernment,theconservationcommunity,relevantscientificdisciplines,andprivatephilanthropy(Appendix2).HelpfulinsightsandconceptsfromparalleleffortsinotherjurisdictionsandguidancedevelopedbytheInternationalAlliancetoCombatOceanAcidificationwereadaptedforapplicationtotheCaliforniacontext.8Lookingforward,thisActionPlanisthefirststepinamuchlongereffort.ScientificunderstandingofOAisrapidlyevolving,asisexperienceworldwideinidentifyingandimplementingstrategiestomitigateandadapttoOA.PeriodicassessmentofprogressontheActionPlanandrevisionstoupdateandrefineitshouldbeundertakenataminimumofevery5yearstoincorporatewhathasbeenlearnedfromCalifornia’sexperienceandtheexperiencesofothers.
8SeveralotherstateshaveorarecurrentlytakingstepstoaddressOAthroughOAinitiativesandplansoraspartof
broaderoceaninitiatives,includingWashington,Oregon,Maryland,Maine,andNewYork.InternationaleffortsonOAincludeMonaco’sactionplanandregionalvulnerabilityassessmentsandplanningforthePacificislandregionandLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean.Tohelpjump-startthedevelopmentofOAactionplans,theInternationalAlliancetoCombatOceanAcidificationprovidesan“ActionToolkit”(availableathttps://www.oaalliance.org/build-your-oa-action-plan/)thatprovidesnumerousoptionsforaddressingOAthroughimprovedscientificunderstandingandpublicawareness,mitigationandadaptation,andregionalandinternationalcollaboration.
![Page 12: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.12
Box2:Oceanstewardship&climatechangepoliciesinCalifornia
OceanStewardshipTwolawspassedin1998and1999,theMarineLifeManagementAct(MLMA)andtheMarineLifeProtectionAct(MLPA),establishedinnovativeframeworksforsecuringthehealthandproductivityofCalifornia’smarinefisheriesandecosystems.Bothtakeanecosystem-basedperspective,requireconsultationwithaffectedconstituenciesandscience-baseddecision-making,andemphasizeadaptiveapproachesasameansofenablingactionunderconditionsofuncertainty.Since2009,CaliforniahasadvancedthesustainablemanagementofnumerouscoastalfisheriesundertheMLMAthroughnewmanagementplansandrule-makings,and,undertheMLPAdesignatedthenation’sfirststatewidenetworkofmarineprotectedareas(MPAs),fullyprotectingmorethan9%ofstatewaters.TheseparateMasterPlansthatguideimplementationofeachactareperiodicallyupdated,providingamechanismforadoptingimprovedscientificunderstandingandmanagementtools.Recentupdatestobothhavebeguntointegrateapproachesforaddressingclimatechange,OA,andotherenvironmentalchangesbytakingstepstomaintainecologicalandsocialresilience,adoptingmanagementflexibility,andsystematicallyassessingandintegratingchangingconditionsintomanagementactions.Strategies#2,4,and5ofthisplancalloutactionsrelatedtoCalifornia’sfisheriesmanagementandMPAnetworkandidentifyprocessesforengagingaffectedconstituencies.
MitigationofGreenhouseGasEmissionsCalifornia’sprogramtoreducegreenhousegas(GHG)emissions–includingCO2,theprimarycauseofOA–hasevolvedthroughseverallawsandExecutiveActionsstartingin2005.ThecurrentgoalistoreducestateGHGemissionsto40%of1990levelsby2030.Strategiesforachievingthesereductions,specifiedinthe2017versionofthestate’s3-yearScopingPlan,includeimprovingenergyefficiencyinthebuildingandtransportationsectors,transitioningtorenewablefuels,reducingemissionsfromcommunities,agriculture,andothersectors,andcappingemissionsfromvariousindustries.TheGreenhouseGasReductionFund(GGRF)isamechanismthroughwhichproceedsfromthestate’sCap-and-TradeauctionsareinvestedtoreduceGHGemissionsandachieveotherstategoals.TheStateLegislature,inextendingtheCap-and-TradeProgramthrough2030inrecentlegislation,expresseditsintenttouseaportionofGGRFfundstosupport“climateadaptationandresilience,”openingthedoorforagenciestoconsideractionsthatimproveresiliencewhilesequesteringcarbonorreducingGHGemissions.Policy-makershavestartedtoexamineopportunitiesforbetterintegratingcoastalandoceansystemsintothismitigationframework,andthemostrecentupdatetotheScopingPlanincludesthepotentialfordirectingGGRFinvestmentstowardsstoringcarbonincoastalareasandtheoceans,suchasinseagrassmeadowsandsaltmarshes.Strategies#3and#4ofthisplanidentifyactionsforelevatingOAandtheroleofcoastsandoceansinthestate’sGHGreductioneffortsandforadvancingcarbonstorageandOAameliorationbynatural,restored,andconstructedlivingsystemsinCalifornia’scoastalandoceanhabitats.
![Page 13: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.13
Box2(cont.):Oceanstewardship&climatechangepoliciesinCalifornia
ClimateChangeAdaptationClimatechangeadaptationinCaliforniahasprogressedalongseveralavenues,reflectingthemanydifferentpeopleandinstitutionsinvolvedindiversekindsofadaptationactivities.Eachofthesuccessivestatewideadaptationstrategiespreparedsince2009–currentlyreferredtoastheSafeguardingCaliforniaPlan–hasidentifiedOAasasignificantthreattoCalifornia’scoastsandoceans.Theplan’sOAactions,althoughnotextensive–haveprogressivelyexpandedbeyondinitialcallsforimprovedscienceandmonitoringtoalsoincludeintegratedvulnerabilityassessmentsandactionstoimprovefisheriesresilienceinthemostrecent2018update.TheseinitialstepsonOAhelpedpreparethegroundforthisActionPlan,which,inturn,setsoutabroaderrangeofactionsthatwillinformthenextstepsofstateagencies.
In2015,theGovernor’sOfficeofPlanningandResearchestablishedthenewlegislatively-mandatedIntegratedClimateAdaptationandResilienceProgram(ICARP).ICARPfacilitatestheworkoftherepresentativeTechnicalAdvisoryCouncil(whoseroleistohelpcoordinateclimateadaptationinthestate)andalsohostsaStateAdaptationClearinghousetoprovideacentralizedsourceofinformationandresourcesfordecision-makingatthestate,regional,andlocallevels.Otherstate-supportedmechanismsestablishedtofacilitatenetworkingandlearningamongclimateadaptationpractitionersandscientistdevelopingdecision-relevantclimatescienceincludethebiennialCaliforniaAdaptationForumorganizedbytheLocalGovernmentCommissionandperiodicCaliforniaClimateChangeScienceSymposia.Actionsidentifiedunderstrategy#5ofthisplanidentifywaystobuildoffthesemechanismstohelpspeedOAinformationsharingandtohelpbuildthestate’sOAconstituencyandnetworks.
AdaptationtoSeaLevelRiseManystateagenciesmakedecisionsthatneedtointegratesealevelrise(SLR)projectionsanduncertainties–someinvolvingsignificantinvestmentsandlongtimelinesrelated,forexample,toinfrastructureandtransportation.In2010,CaliforniasoughttorapidlyspurintegrationofbestavailableinformationonSLRintodecision-makingofthesediverseagencieswhilealsoprovidingamechanismforupdatingthescientificbasisfordecision-makingasimprovedinformationbecameavailable.Thesolutiontothischallengewastoconveneamulti-agencyworkinggrouptodevelopedandenablebroadadoptionofoverarchingguidanceonSLRthatwasflexibleenoughtobeusefulwithintheagencies’differingdecisiontimelinesandrisktolerances.The2018updatetotheStateofCaliforniaSeaLevelRiseGuidanceincorporatesthemostup-to-dateSLRscienceandbroadensthedocumenttoaddresstheneedsoflocaldecision-makers,inadditiontostateagencies.ActionsinStrategy#1ofthisplanforactivatingstategovernmentdrawonlessonsfrommethodpioneeredpreviouslyforSLR.
Foradditionaldetailsaboutthesepolicies,programsandactivitiesdescribedabovesee:• https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/MLMA(MLMA);• https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/MPAs(MLPA);• https://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/cc.htm(GHGemissionsreduction);• https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB398(recentlegislationonCap-and-
Trade)• http://resources.ca.gov/climate/safeguarding/(climatechangeadaptation);• http://www.californiaadaptationforum.org;http://californiascience.org(conveningprocessesforclimateadaptation);• http://www.opr.ca.gov/planning/icarp/(integratedclimateresilience);and• http://www.opc.ca.gov/2013/04/update-to-the-sea-level-rise-guidance-document/(adaptationtosealevelrise).
![Page 14: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.14
Box3:TheInternationalAlliancetoCombatOceanAcidification
The International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification brings together jurisdictions across the globe to combat ocean acidification and changing ocean conditions as an immediate and critical threat to coastal economies and ocean ecosystems. Members benefit from working together to mitigate carbon emissions and other contributors to ocean acidification, sharing knowledge about the impacts of ocean acidification, and learning how to adapt locally to the ongoing changes in ocean conditions. Globally, the OA Alliance is:
• Supporting governments to take meaningful actions to address changing ocean conditions • Pushing for inclusion of strong ocean protection provisions in international climate
agreements and other relevant frameworks • Creating a coalition of governments and partners to elevate the visibility and importance of
ocean acidification in public discourse and policy development
Individual Alliance members are encouraged to create an OA Action Plan that describes their own unique contribution to advancing some or all the 5 goals of the OA Alliance as written in the Call to Action. The Alliance’s Call to Action provides an immediate opportunity for parties across the globe to highlight ocean acidification as an imminent threat to coastal economies and ocean ecosystems. The Call to Action identifies five goals that the Alliance is working to further:
• Advance scientific understanding of ocean acidification • Take meaningful actions to reduce causes of acidification • Protect the environment and coastal communities from impacts of a changing ocean • Expand public awareness and understanding of acidification • Build sustained support for addressing this global problem
OA Action Plans will help governments create actionable responses to threats in their regions and will help affiliate members best leverage their expertise and resources on this issue. The OA Alliance has engaged with members in the development of OA Action Plans which describe real, tangible actions governments will take to respond to the threat of ocean acidification. Calling for the development of regional, member-driven, OA Action plans makes the OA Alliance unique in the focus on concrete, implementable actions to address changing ocean conditions. To facilitate the development of OA Action Plans, the OA Alliance has created a toolkit as a reference aid. The OA Action Plan Toolkit provides members with examples and suggestions of both regulatory and non-regulatory actions, and is meant to be a source of inspiration and a listing of suggested actions that members might consider when crafting their own OA Action Plan. The OA Alliance is continuing to develop the Action Plan toolkit and supporting resources for both government and affiliate members to utilize. For additional details on the OA Alliance, the Call to Action, or the OA Action Plan Toolkit, please see: https://www.oaalliance.org/
![Page 15: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.15
TheStateofCalifornia’s10-yearVisionforActionto
AddressOceanAcidification Asoftheyear2028:
ü MOBILIZINGTHESTATE.California’spolicy-makers,resourcemanagers,public,andoceanindustriesunderstandthatoceanacidification(OA)isamajorimpactofglobalCO2emissions,onethathasasmuchpotentialtodisruptthehealthandproductivityofourcoastsandoceansasthechangingclimate.ThepeoplemostlikelytobeaffectedbyOAknowwhattheyhaveatstakeandareactivelyhelpingthestatetoadvancesolutions.TheStateofCalifornia–workinginpartnershipwiththeprivatesector,federal,tribal,andlocalgovernmentsaswellasgrowingregionalandinternationalcoalitions–hasmobilizedtoreducethecausesandadapttotheunavoidableimpactsofOA.
ü TAKINGACTION.California’seffortshaveresultedinsignificantreductionsintheCO2emissionsandotherpollutantsthatcauseOA.Throughactivestewardship,California’scoastsandestuarieshostrobusteelgrass,saltmarshes,andkelpforeststhatsupportthrivingfisheries.Improvedunderstandingofwhether,where,andhoweelgrass,saltmarshes,andkelpcanlocallyslowOAorsequestercarbonisbeingappliedinstatepoliciesandtheaquacultureindustry.Coastalcommunitiesandoceanindustrieshaveadoptednewwaysofdoingbusinessandaremaintainingtheirvitalityasoceanconditionschange.
ü ADVANCINGSCIENCE.Arobustscientificinfrastructureexistsfordevelopinganddeliveringdecision-relevantinformationaboutthecurrentandfuturepatterns,causes,andimpactsofOA.CalifornianshaveagreatlyimprovedunderstandingofhowcoastalandoceanconditionsandecosystemswillrespondtotheeffectsofOAactingincombinationwithotherongoingoceanchanges(includingtemperature,circulation,oxygen,freshwaterinputs,humanuses)andofpotentialoptionsforsustainingbiologicalproductivityandecosystemfunctionsandbenefits.Thisinformationisinformingandimprovingtheday-to-dayactions,investments,andlong-termplanningofdecision-makersacrossthepublicandprivatesectors.
![Page 16: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.16
SixStrategiesforActiononOceanAcidification
Sixco-equalstrategiesformtheorganizingframeworkforCalifornia’sOceanAcidificationActionPlan.Thesefocuson(1)preparingforOArisksandimpacts,(2)activatingresponsibleelementsofstategovernment,(3)reducingthepollutionthatcausesofOA,(4)deployinglivingsystemstolocallyslowOAandstorecarbon,(5)buildingCalifornia’sadaptivecapacitiesandresilience,and(6)engagingbeyondstateborderstoaccomplishmorethanCaliforniacanonitsown.Eachofthesixstrategiesisessentialandallshouldbeundertakenexpeditiously.Foreachstrategy,thePlanexplainstheunderlyingrationale,providesa5-yearplanandgoals,andidentifiesasetofspecifictractableactions.Appendix3identifiespotentialmeasuresforevaluatingprogressagainstthe5-yeargoalsduringtheActionPlan’simplementation.ScienceandcommunicationsplayintegralrolesintheActionPlan.Botharesystematicallyembeddedthroughoutthesixstrategies,reflectingthediversewaysthatscienceandcommunicationsareessentialforeffectivepolicyandmanagement.Appendix4summarizestheActionPlan’sscienceandcommunicationactions.TheOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaScienceTaskForce9establishedinJanuaryof2018asdirectedbyAssemblyBill2139(Williams)developedamoredetailedscienceplanforovercomingimpedimentstoactionandenablingsuccessfulimplementationoftheCaliforniaOAActionPlan.ThisscienceplanappearsinAppendix5(note:forthcomingOctober2018aspartofthefinalActionPlan).
Strategy#1–PreparefortheFullRangeofOARisksandImpacts
TheimplicationsofOAforthehealthandproductivityofCalifornia’scoastalandoceanecosystems,andthecommunitiesandindustriesthatdependontheseecosystems,areenormous.Fromcorrodingshellsandskeletonsofmarineorganismstodisruptingnormalfishbehaviors,OAhasthepotentialtoaltermarinefoodwebsandecosystemsandtoreduceoraltertheproductivityandpredictabilityofmarinefisheriesandaquacultureoperations.TheproductionfailuresexperiencedbyPacificNorthwestoysterhatcheriesbetween2006and2009providesasmallglimpseofwhatmaylieahead.10
9TheOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaScienceTaskForceservesasaresponsiveadvisorybodythatprovidesscientificguidancetotheOPCinanongoingmannertoinformcontinuedactionsonoceanacidificationandhypoxiainCaliforniaandalongtheWestCoast.Tolearnmoreseehttp://westcoastoah.org/taskforce/about/
10WashingtonStateBlueRibbonPanelonOceanAcidification(2012).OceanAcidification:FromKnowledgetoAction,WashingtonState’sStrategicResponse.WashingtonDepartmentofEcology.https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Our-role-in-the-community/Partnerships-committees/Ocean-acidification-Blue-Ribbon-panel
![Page 17: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.17
Evenso,wedonotyethaveaclearpictureofwhatisatstakeforCaliforniaasOAconditionsintensifyinthecomingdecades.IdentifyingtherisksthatOAposestoCalifornia’sinterestsandassetswillbeessentialtohelpthosewhowillbemostaffectedprepareforthecomingchanges.Thisprocesswillalsohelpwithdevelopingmanagementinterventionsandpoliciesthatcanbesthelpsustainthehealthandwell-beingofcoastalecosystems,communities,andeconomies.Promptactionnowislikelytoyieldbetteroutcomes,becauseoptionswilldecreaseasOAconditionsworsen.OAisunfoldingatatimewhenCalifornia’scoastalandoceanenvironmentsareundergoingothersignificantchanges.Warmingtemperatures,changingprecipitationandfreshwaterflows,risingsealevels,decliningoxygen,andchangestothetypesandintensityofhumanusesarejustsomeoftheshiftsalreadyunderway.RealisticassessmentsofOAriskswillneedtoconsidertheinteractingeffectsofthesevariouschangeprocessesactingincombination.Insomecases,takingstepstoreducetheeffectsofotherfactors(suchashumanusesandpollution)mighthelpenhancetheabilityofnaturalsystemsorpeopletocopewithOA.Conversely,effortsshouldbemadetoensurethatsocietalresponsestootherenvironmentalchanges,suchassealevelrise,aredesignedinwaysthatdonotexacerbateOArisks.115-YEARGOALS:
• TherisksOAposestoCalifornia’sassetsandinterestsarewellunderstoodamongpolicy-makers,resourcemanagers,affectedindustriesandcommunities,andthepublic.
• Decision-relevantmonitoringinformationaboutOAiswidelyavailable,deliveredinausableform,androutinelyappliedtodecisionsacrossthepublicandprivatesectors.
• ImprovedscientificunderstandingofhowOA,andtheinteractionsofOAwithotherenvironmentaldrivers,affectscoastalandmarineecosystemsisinformingstateresource,landuse,andoceanandcoastalmanagementdecisions.
ACTIONS:
1. ConductastatewidevulnerabilityassessmenttoidentifytherisksOAposestotheCalifornia’sbiologicalresources,communities,andeconomies,withinthecontextofotherongoingenvironmentalchangesandhazards,andtoidentifyprioritiesandoptionsforactiontoimprovesocietaladaptivecapacity.12,13
11Coastaladaptationtosealevelrise,forexample,shouldbeundertakeninwaysthatdonotunintentionallyenhance
nutrientrunoffthroughlandusechangeordegradeseagrasshabitatthroughcoastalarmoring.12Suchenvironmentalchangesandhazardsinclude,forexample,changingtemperatures,precipitationpatternsand
runoff,landuses,andhumanuses,sealevelrise,andharmfulalgalblooms.
![Page 18: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.18
• Assesscurrentandfutureriskstospeciesofhighecologicalandeconomicvaluetothestate–including,butnotlimitedto,Dungenesscrabandsalmon.
• Assesscurrentandfutureriskstoocean-dependentindustries–includingaquaculture,fisheries,andcoastaltourism.
• IdentifythosecommunitiesparticularlyvulnerabletotheeffectsofOA.Conductsocialandeconomicresearchtoevaluatepotentialpublicpolicyinterventionsforbolsteringthesecommunities’resilience,adaptivecapacity,andabilitytopursueemergingopportunities.
• Translateandcommunicateinformationaboutrisks,vulnerabilities,andpotentialinterventionstoassistpolicy-makersandaffectedcommunitiesandindustriesinprioritizingandundertakingactionsforimprovingsocietaladaptivecapacity.
2. Designandmaketargetedinvestmentsinamonitoringandobservation(M&O)
systemoptimizedtodeliverdecision-relevantinformationthatservesuserneeds.• BuildingonexistingeffortsinvolvingWestCoastjurisdictionsandthe
federalgovernment,finalizethesystemdesignformonitoringinstate,federal,andcoast-widewatersthatwillassisttheCaliforniainunderstandingandprojectingfutureOApatternsandimpactsonbiologicalresources,communitiesandeconomiesandinapplyingthisinformationtodecisionsrelatedtowaterquality(Strategy#3),themanagementoflivingmarineresources(Strategy#4),andsustainingsocietalandecosystemresilience(Strategy#5).
• TheM&Osystemdesignshouldbeinformedbyanassessmentofuserneedsandshould:encompassnear-andoff-shoreareas;coupleenvironmentalandbiologicalmonitoring(e.g.,offishstocks,ecosystems,andbiologicalOAindicators,suchaspteropods);strategicallyintegrateexistingM&Oassets;includeindustry(e.g.,fishing)andcitizensciencewherefeasibleandbeneficial.
• Ensureadoptionandparticipationinmonitoringdesignandimplementationbyrelevantlocal,state,andfederalagencies.
• MakeandencouragecollaboratorstomaketargetedandsustainedinvestmentsintheM&Osystem.StateinvestmentsshouldbetargetedtowardM&OactivitiesthatarecriticalforimplementingstateactionprioritiesidentifiedinthisActionPlanandformakingpolicyandmanagementdecisionsrelatedtoanticipating,mitigating,andadaptingtoOA.
13Since2006,successiveCaliforniaClimateChangeAssessmentshaveprovidedthestatewithcriticalscientific
informationabouttheimpactsofclimatechangeandpotentialadaptationoptionsandprovideapossiblemechanismforsupportingelementsofthestatewideOAvulnerabilityassessment.FormoreabouttheCaliforniaClimateChangeAssessmentsseehttp://climatechange.ca.gov/climate_action_team/reports/climate_assessments.html.
![Page 19: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.19
• EnhanceandexpandcoupledenvironmentalandbiologicalmonitoringacrossthestatewideMPAnetworktoprovideessentialbaselineinformationforunderstandingOAecosystemimpactsandpotentialcontributionsofMPAstosustainingregionalecosystemfunctionsandsocietalbenefitsunderintensifyingOA.
• ProvideopenaccesstoinformationdevelopedthroughtheM&Osystemviaexistingornewweb-basedplatformsanddataportal(s)thatallowtheOAinformationtobeviewedandanalyzedincombinationwithotherenvironmentalinformation.
• Theplatformshouldbedevelopedinwaysthat,overthelonger-term,willsupportweb-basedmappingtoolsthat,amongotherthings:showcurrentandprojectedfutureOAtrends,forecastsandscenarios;highlightareashistoricallysubjecttogreatpHvariation;andidentify“hotspots”wherefutureOAchangeswillbefasterandmoreintense.
3. CharacterizehowinteractionsbetweenOAandotherenvironmentalchangeswill
affectthestructure,function,andsocietalbenefitsderivedfromCalifornia’scoastalandoceanecosystems.
• InvestdirectlyandthroughpartnershipsinbuildingthescientificfoundationforunderstandingandprojectingthepotentialfutureecosystemimpactsofOAinteractingwithotherchangeprocesses(e.g.temperature,runoff,hypoxia,humanuses,landusechangeandchangestocoastalinfrastructure).Supportedworkshouldincluderesearchonfoodwebimpactsthatcaninformfisheriesmanagement.Thestatewidenetworkofmarineprotectedareascanpotentiallyserveasa“livinglaboratory”forrelatedresearch.
• Identifyandtest,usingmodelsandothermeanssuchasfieldexperimentsandlaboratorymanipulations,potentialpolicyandmanagementinterventionstosloworreduceOAecosystemimpacts.Examplesmightincludeadjustingotherenvironmentaldriversthataffectecosystemhealth(e.g.,pollution,disturbance,resourceextraction)andexaminingtheextenttowhichmarineprotectedareasaidinlocallyorregionallysupportingecologicaladaptationtoOA.14
Strategy#2–ActivateResponsibleElementsofStateGovernment
14Marineprotectedareasmight,forexample,harborrobustandgeneticallydiversepopulationsofmarinespeciesthatcanhelpre-seedareassubjecttotransientOAextremesorincludevariantsthatarenaturallymoreresistanttoOA.MarineprotectedareasthatsupporthealthyseagrassmeadowsmayamelioratelocalOA.
![Page 20: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.20
Overthecomingdecades,intensifyingOAalongtheCaliforniacoastwillinteractwithotheroceanchangestosignificantlyalterandpotentiallydegradecoastalandoceanwaterqualityandecosystemsandthewell-beingofcommunitiesandindustriesthatdependonthecoastandocean.15Althoughstategovernmentcoulddomuchtoanticipate,mitigate,andadapttothesechanges,sucheffortshaveonlyjustbegun.California’ssuccessinaddressingOAdemandstheengagementofamuchbroadersetofstateagenciesandprograms–includingallwhosemissionsandactionswillaffectorwillbeaffectedbyOA.ThesubstantivecoverageandmissionsoftheseagenciesgoeswellbeyondthosethathavealreadybeguntoaddressOAinaconcretefashion,andincludesgreenhousegasemissionsreduction,sealevelriseadaptation,landuseandtransportationplanningandmanagement,watermanagementandquality,agriculturalandseafoodproduction,andwildlifeconservation.BroadengagementacrossagenciesandsectorswillensurethatthestateisdoingeverythingitcantolimitharmtoCalifornia’sinterestsfromOA,andthatworkonOAthroughoutstategovernmentiscoordinated,wellaligned,andeffective.Californiahastakenonsimilarchallengesinbuildingapproachesforaddressingclimatechange,anditseffortshaveresultedinwell-recognizedmodelsofsuccessfulmulti-agencygovernanceforreducinggreenhousegasemissionsandadaptingtoclimatechangeandsealevelrise.16TheActionPlanhasdrawnonlessonsfromtheseexperiencesindesigningtheapproachbelowforspeedingtransformationalchangeinthestate’sapproachtoOA.5-YEARGOALS:
• AllrelevantstateagenciesaresuccessfullyintegratingthebestavailablescientificinformationaboutOAintodecisionsandpoliciesthathavethepotentialtocontributetoortoslowOAalongtheCaliforniacoastorthatdealwithbiologicalresources,industries,orcommunitieslikelytobeaffectedbyOA.
• StategovernmentisdoingasmuchasitcantominimizeharmtoCalifornia’sinterestsfromOAandtoanticipateandadapttothoseharmfulimpactsthatcannotbereduced.
ACTIONS:
15SeefindingsandreportsoftheWestCoastOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaPanelavailableathttp://westcoastoah.org/westcoastpanel/
16http://www.opc.ca.gov/updating-californias-sea-level-rise-guidance/,https://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/ab32/ab32.htm,andhttp://resources.ca.gov/climate/safeguarding/providebriefhistoriesandrelevantdocumentsrelatedtothedevelopmentofCalifornia’sapproachestosealevelrise,GHGemissionsreduction,andclimatechangeadaptation,respectively.
![Page 21: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.21
1. FullyintegrateOAintoCaliforniastategovernmentpolicies,planning,andoperations
• TheCaliforniaOceanProtectionCouncilwillconveneandleadaninteragencyOAworkinggroupthatincludessenior-levelstafffromthefullsetofstateagencieswhosedecisionsaffectorwillbeaffectedbyOA.
• Theworkinggroupwill,withinoneyear:(a)Identifyagencypolicies,decision-makingprocesses,andinvestmentsthatshouldconsiderinformationaboutpotentialimpactstocoastalOAorpossibleeffectsofOAonmanagedresourcesorinterests;(b)Articulateoverarchingstateguidance,,intheformofgeneraloperatingprinciplesandpractices,thatwillassistthememberagenciesandprogramsinmovingforwardinaddressingOAwithintheirpurview;and(c)SpecifyhowmemberagenciesandprogramswillconsiderandimplementtheCaliforniaOAActionPlanandintegrateOAintotheirpolicyandmanagementdecision-making.
• OvertheActionPlan’s5-yearlifespan,theworkinggroupwilltrackimplementationprogressand,attheendofthisperiod,developarevisedplaninlightofdocumentedaccomplishments,identifiedchallenges,learning,andscienceadvances.
• Tosupporttheday-to-daypolicyandmanagementdecisionsandactionsonOAbymemberagenciesandprogramsoftheworkinggroup,theOPC,workingincollaborationwiththeOAHScienceTaskForce,willoverseeproductionofasciencesynthesisthattranslatescurrentunderstandinganduncertaintiesaboutOAintoactionableknowledgethatisusefulforagencyandprogramdecision-making.17ThissynthesiswillincludeOApatternsandprojectionsandtheanticipatedbiologicalandsocioeconomicimpactsofOAinrealworldsituationswhereOAinteractswithotherenvironmentaldrivers,manyofwhicharealsochanging.ThesynthesiswillberesponsivetoachargefromtheOAworkinggroup,andwillbeupdatedaminimumofeverythreeyearsinlightofimprovedscientificunderstanding.
• ImproveunderstandingofOAanditssignificanceamongpolicy-makersandleadersinCalifornia’slegislatureandpublicagencies.
• Sharewithpolicy-makersoutsideofCalifornia(domesticallyandinternationally)lessons,insights,andpracticalaccomplishmentsfromCalifornia’sexperienceelevatingattentiontoOAintothestate’spolicyframeworksforclimatechange(mitigation,adaptation),oceanstewardship(fisheries,wildlife,marineprotectedareas),andcoastalwaterquality.
17ThissynthesiswouldplaythesameroleforOAthatRisingSeasinCalifornia:AnUpdateonSeaLevelRiseScienceisplayinginthestate’sguidanceonsealevelrise.Seehttp://www.oceansciencetrust.org/projects/updating-californias-sea-level-rise-guidance/
![Page 22: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.22
2. EnsureimplementationoftheActionPlan• ProvidededicatedcapacityandstafftimetoimplementtheActionPlan,
evaluateprogress,andperiodicallyupdateandrevisetheplan.ThelogicalnexusforleadingandcoordinatingimplementationoftheOAActionPlanistheCaliforniaOceanProtectionCouncilandtheCoastalandOceansResourcesWorkingGroupestablishedaspartofthestate’sClimateActionTeam.18IndividualagenciesandprogramsparticipatingintheOAworkinggroupwillneedtoallocatestafftimetocontributeandbuildinternalexpertiseaboutOAanditsimplicationsforagencypoliciesandoperations.
• IdentifyandtargetfundingtoimplementtheActionPlan,includingthroughpublicfunding,public/privatepartnerships,leveragedinvestments,andidentificationofprioritiesforotherfunders(science,federal,privatephilanthropy).
Strategy#3–ReducethePollutionthatCausesOA
Oceanacidificationisfundamentallyawaterpollutionproblem.Byfar,themajordriverispollutionoftheworld’soceanscausedbyabsorptionofglobalCO2emissions.19Consequently,themostimportantactionsCaliforniacantaketolimitOAanditsimpactsarethoseaimedatreducingCO2emissionsandsecuringcarbonstorage.Californiaalreadyhasawell-establishedprogramtoreducegreenhousegasemissions.BuildinguponthegroundbreakingCaliforniaGlobalWarmingSolutionsActof2006(AssemblyBill32),thestateestablishedarobustaccountingframework,hassetincreasinglyambitiousGHGreductiongoals,andlaunchedastrategicsetofactionsandinvestmentstoachievethesegoals.California’scurrent2030targetofreducingemissionsto40%below1990levelsby2030isthemostambitiousGHGreductiongoalforNorthAmerica.TheGHGreductionprogramscope,whichinitiallyemphasizedmeasurestoimproveenergyefficiency,reducefossilfueldependence,andlimittransportationemissions,recentlyexpandedattentiontomeasuresforpromotingcarbonsequestrationonnaturalandworkinglandsandreducingemissionsfromlandandresourcemanagementpractices.20Attentiontocoastsandoceansinthesevariousapproacheshasbeen
18FormoreontheCoastalandOceansResourcesWorkingGroupoftheClimateActionTeamsee:http://www.opc.ca.gov/2010/07/coastal-and-ocean-climate-action-team-co-cat/).
19SeefindingsandreportsoftheWestCoastOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaPanelavailableathttp://westcoastoah.org/westcoastpanel/.
20See:CaliforniaAirResourceBoard(webpage).NaturalandWorkingLandsSector:GHGReductionsandCarbonSequestrationGoalsforCalifornia’sForests,Ranches,andFarms.
![Page 23: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.23
limitedsofar,andopportunitiesnowexisttomoresystematicallyelevateattentiontoOAandtocoastalandoceansystemsinCalifornia’sGHGreductionframework.21California’sClimateChangeScopingPlan,inparticular,shouldfullyintegratestrategiesforreducingOA.22InadditiontoongoingOAresultingfromglobalCO2emissions,locallygeneratedpollutionhasthepotentialtoacceleratetherateatwhichcoastalwatersareacidifying,especiallyinsemi-enclosedwaterslikeestuariesandbays.Thislocalaccelerationoccurswheninputsofwaterborneorganiccarbonandnutrientsfromoceanwastewaterdischarges,agriculturalandurbanrunoff,andothersourcesresultinadditionalcontributionsofCO2tocoastalwaters.23,24Absorptionoflocalairborneemissions(includingCO2andchemicalsthatdirectlyacidifyoceanwaterssuchasnitrousoxidesandsulfurcompounds),fromsourcessuchastransportationandelectricutilities,alsohasthepotentialtoexacerbateOAlocally.FreshwaterrunofffromimpervioussurfacesinsomeareascanworsenOAbyfloodingcoastalwaterswithlowpHwater.InplaceswherelocalinputsareacceleratingOA,reducinglocalpollutioncouldhelpslowthisprocess.TechnicalassessmentsofthemagnitudeandimpactsoflocalcontributionstocoastalOAinCaliforniahavebegun,buthavenotyetbeencompleted.Importantquestionsremainrelatedto:WhereandwhatproportionoftheOAoccurringalongtheCaliforniacoastisduetolocalwater-borneoratmosphericpollution?Howwilltheserelativecontributionschangeinthefuture?Whichlocations,ifany,couldorshouldbeprioritizedforreducinglocalinputsinordertoslowthenear-termpaceofOA?Overthenextfewyears,modelscurrentlyunderdevelopmentareexpectedtostartprovidinganswers.Theresultsshouldaidinevaluatingthepotentialbenefits(intermsofslowinglocalacidificationrates)ofinterventionstoreduceorrelocatelocalpollutioninputs,includingmorecostlyorcontroversialinterventions,suchaschangestooceanwastewaterdischargesoradjustingagriculturalpracticestoreducefertilizerrunoff.25https://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/natandworkinglands/natandworkinglands.htm.Forestsreceivedparticularattentionbecauseoftheirlargesequestrationpotentialandbecauseoftherisksofcarbonleakageposedbywildfire(seeForestClimateActionTeam(2018).CaliforniaForestCarbonPlan:ManagingOurForestLandscapesinaChangingClimate).http://www.fire.ca.gov/fcat/downloads/CaliforniaForestCarbonPlaFinal.pdf)
21Arecentconceptpaperdevelopedtoinformfutureinvestmentsinnaturalandworkinglandsincludesseagrassandsaltmarshrestorationasproposedmanagementactivities.See:CaliforniaAirResourcesBoard,etal.(2018).California2030NaturalandWorkingLandsClimateChangeImplementationPlanConceptPaper.https://arb.ca.gov/cc/natandworkinglands/nwl-implementation-plan-concept-paper.pdfSeealsoStrategy#4ofthisplan.
22See:CaliforniaAirResourcesBoard(2017).California’s2017ClimateChangeScopingPlan.https://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/scopingplan/scopingplan.htm
23CO2isreleasedwhenbacteriadecomposeorganiccarbonthatisdischargedintoriversorcoastalwaterorwhennutrientsinputs(e.g.,nitrogenandphosphorous)thatstimulatetheproliferationofalgaethatlaterreleaseCO2whentheydieanddecompose.
24InadditiontoexacerbatingOA,throughcomplexandinteractingprocesses,excessivenutrientandorganiccarboninputsalsocancontributetoharmfulalgalbloomsandlowoxygen(hypoxia),andtheseeffectsmaybeexacerbatedbytemperatureincreasescausedbyclimatechange.See,forexample,Breitburg,etal.2018.Decliningoxygenintheglobaloceanandcoastalwaters.Science359:46.
25Seedescriptionofmodelingprojectathttp://westcoastoah.org/resources/california/
![Page 24: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.24
Whilethisinformationisbeingdeveloped,actionstillcanbetakenthroughvariousmulti-benefitoptionsthatsimultaneouslyreducelocalinputswhileachievingotherpolicyoreconomicgoals.Forexample,wastewatertreatmentplantsundertakinginfrastructureupgradestoimproveenergyoreconomicefficiency,orinvestinginwaterreusetoachievewatersavings,couldsimultaneouslymakechangestoreducenutrientdischarges.26Overthelonger-term,evaluating,communicating,andundertakingmoreaggressivestepstoreducethecausesofOAwillrequiredevelopmentandadoptionofscientificallyrobustandbiologicallymeaningfulOAindicatorsforCalifornia’scoastalandoceanwaters,andindicatorvaluesthatcouldserveasmanagementgoalsandregulatorytriggers.27Suchindicatorsandvalueswillsupportseveralimportantapplications,including:evaluating,communicating,andtrackingacidificationinCalifornia’scoastalwaters;justifyingmanagementinterventionsbyRegionalWaterQualityControlBoards;anddevelopingcriteriaandobjectivesforregulatingcausalpollutantsunderfederalandstatelaw(theCleanWaterActandPorter-CologneWaterQualityControlAct).285-YEARGOALS:
• AttentiontocoastalandoceansystemsandtoOAiselevatedandsystematicallyaddressedinCalifornia’sGHGreductionefforts.
• Near-termoptionsforreducinglocalsourcesofacidifyingpollutants(voluntary,incentive-based,permitting)havebeenidentifiedandarefullyemployed.
• Thestatehasthetechnicaltoolsitneeds–includingscientificallyrobustwaterqualityindicatorsandappropriatemodelsforassessingcontributionsoflocalandglobalCO2–tomeasureandevaluateOA-relatedchangesoccurringalongtheCaliforniacoast,toselectwaterqualitygoals,andtoinitiatemanagementorregulatoryactiontoslowtheserates,iffeasibleandappropriate.
26Notethatwaterreuseimprovementsthatdonotalsoremovenutrientsyieldconcentratednutrient-richeffluentsthatcouldcauseintensifiedlocalOAaroundoceandischarges.
27Theterm“indicator”isusedhereinageneralsensetorefertoawaterqualitycharacteristic(chemicalorbiological,suchaspHlevel,durationoflowpHperiods,carbonatesaturationstate,abundanceorconditionofsensitivespecies,etc.)thatisassociatedwithimpacts,whenitreachescertainvalues,onthestate’scoastalandmarineecosystemsandtheirbeneficialuses.Waterqualitymanagers,scientists,andregulatorsdevelopandusevariouskindsofwaterqualityindicatorsandindicatorvaluesthatcanaidinevaluatingandcommunicatingenvironmentaltrendsorcanserveaswaterqualitygoalsandactiontriggers,variouslyreferredtoas“thresholds,”“benchmarks,”“assessmentthresholds,”“assessmentendpoints,”“objectives,”and“criteria,”dependingonthecontext.FordetailsaboutterminologyusedbyCalifornia’swaterqualitymanagerssee:Marschack,J.B.2016.ACompilationofWaterQualityGoals:17thEdition.StateWaterResourcesControlBoard.https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/water_quality_goals/.
28RevisionofexistingwaterqualitycriteriawasoneofeightmajorrecommendationsmadebytheWestCoastOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaSciencePanelbasedonthePanel’sconclusionthatexistingwaterqualitycriteriaareoutofdateandinsufficientlysensitivetodetectchangesthatarebiologicallysignificantandofmanagementconcern.See:Chan,F.etal.(2016).TheWestCoastOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaSciencePanel:MajorFindings,Recommendations,andActions.http://westcoastoah.org/westcoastpanel/
![Page 25: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.25
ACTIONS:
1. SystematicallyintegrateOAandcoastsandoceansintoCalifornia’sGHGemissionsreductionprogram.
• DevelopandamplifyclearmessagesthatidentifyOAasamajorimpactofglobalCO2emissionsandreductionofOAasamajorbenefitofthestate’sGHGreductionefforts.
• Identify,evaluate,andimplement,aswarranted,additionalopportunitiestoreduceGHGemissionsbycoastalandoceanuses(suchastourism,recreation,anddesalinization)andrelatedindustriesthroughvoluntary,incentive-based,and/orregulatorymeasuresandtosecurecarbonstoragethroughsystemssuchasseagrassmeadows,saltmarshes,kelpforests,andnovelmechanismssuchaskelpmariculture(seealsoStrategy#4).
• Reducethecarbonfootprintofseafoodconsumptioninthestate.Thefirststepistoevaluatethepotentialforandtheenvironmental,economic,andsocialcostsandbenefitsofincentivizingconsumptionoflocallysourcedproducts(wildcapture,aquaculture)andreducingimportsofforeignsourcedproducts.Ifwarranted,workwithseafoodcertificationandratingprogramstointegratecarbonfootprintinformationintoratingsystemsandpubliceducationproducts.
• Identifyandassignprioritytoemissionsreductionactionsthatalsohavethepotentialtoreduceorslowlocalratesofacidification.Forexample,managementofnitrogenfertilizeronagriculturallandstoreduceemissionsofnitrousoxide(agreenhousegas)alsomayreducenutrientrunoffthatcanintensifylocalOA,andsubmergedaquaticvegetationsecuredtodelivercarbonstoragemayalsoameliorateratesoflocalacidification(seealsoStrategy#4).29,30
• EvaluateandadvanceopportunitiesfordirectinginvestmentsoftheGreenhouseGasReductionFundtowardsactionsthatsimultaneouslyimproveresilienceofindustriesandcommunitiesvulnerabletoOAwhilereducingGHGemissionsorimprovingcarbonstorage.(SeealsoStrategy#5.)
• Continuetoadvancecollaborativedialogueonocean-basedproductionofrenewablewindenergy,whereitiscompatiblewithsustaininghealthyoceanecosystems,fisheries,andcoastaleconomies
2. Identifysourcesandreducelocalwater-borneandairbornepollutionthatcan
exacerbatecoastalOA.
29See:CaliforniaAirResourcesBoard(2017).California’s2017ClimateChangeScopingPlan.
https://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/scopingplan/scopingplan.htm30Manyofthesesameactionsarelikelytoyieldadditionalwaterqualitybenefitsbyreducinghypoxiaincoastalwaters.
![Page 26: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.26
• Expandincentivesforcoastalinfrastructureupgradesthataredesignedtosimultaneouslyreduceoreliminatenutrient-andcarbon-ladenoceandischargesthatexacerbatelocalacidificationwhilealsoadvancingCalifornia’sclimateadaptationgoalsforthewatersectorbyimprovingwaterreuseandrecycling.31
• Assesswhetherlocalsourcesofacidifyingairborneemissions(e.g.,nitrogenoxides,sulfuroxides)areaffectingtherateofOAinselectregionsofthecoast,suchasnearCaliforniaportsandharborsorcoastalelectricpowerplants.Identifyandimplementoptionsforreducingtheseairbornepollutantsunderstatelaw,asappropriate,whichmayalsoyieldpublichealthbenefitsinsomeplaces.
• SupportandhighlightthesignificanceforOAofintegratedwatershedplanningandlandmanagementandprotectionactivities(e.g.,runoffreduction,protectionofuplandwetlandsandriparianareas)thatarelikelytoyieldimproveddownstreamwaterqualityinbaysandestuarieswhererisksofintensifiedOAfromlocalinputsaregreatest.Targetcommunicationstowardskeyaudiencesdemonstratingtheselinkagesandhighlightingthemultiplepotentialbenefitsforcoastalwaterqualityandproductivity.32
3. DeveloptechnicaltoolsforevaluatingcoastalOAandforattributingintensifying
OAtocausalpollutants.33Prioritizethosetoolsthatsupportbothnear-andlonger-termapplications,includingvulnerabilityassessments,publiceducation,targetedmanagementinterventions,andregulatoryaction.
• Buildoninitialeffortstodevelopascientificallyrobust,well-vetted,andbiologicallysignificantsetofcoastalwaterqualityindicatorsforevaluatingOAconditionsoccurringalongtheCaliforniacoast.Identifyvaluesandthresholdsfortheseindicatorsthatcouldserveaswaterqualitygoalsandtriggersformanagementorregulatoryaction.
• Buildoninitialeffortstoadvanceandvalidatespatiallyexplicitmodelsandanalyticaltoolsthataidinaccountingfortherelativecontributionsofdifferentpollutionsources(e.g.,globalCO2emissions,localwater-bornenutrientsororganiccarbon,localairborneacidifyingchemicals)toongoingandfuturepHchangesalongtheCaliforniacoastandhowthesecontributionsmightbeaffectedbyvariousinterventions.
31TheprimaryincentivecurrentlyavailableistheCleanWaterStateRevolvingFundthatofferslowcostfinancingfor
waterqualityprojectthatcanbeapplied,amongotherpurposes,toupgradingcoastalwastewatertreatmentinfrastructure.https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/grants_loans/srf/
32ReducingnutrientandorganiccarboninputsthroughactionstakeninupstreamwatershedscanpotentiallynotonlyslowratesofOA,butalsohelpreduceeutrophication,oxygendepletion,andharmfulalgalblooms.
33FormoreaboutinitialinvestmentsoftheOceanProtectionCouncilinthisareaseeprojectsrelatedtowaterqualityandintegratedmodelingathttp://www.opc.ca.gov/opc-climate-change-program/ocean-acidification-2/.
![Page 27: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.27
Strategy#4–DeployLivingSystemstoSlowOAandStoreCarbon
California’sseagrassmeadows,saltmarshes,andkelpforestsarehometodiverseandabundantwildlife,providehabitatsforcommerciallyandrecreationallyimportantfisheries,andareimportantattractionsforcoastaltourismandrecreation.Increasingly,theyalsoarebeingrecognizedascriticaltoachievingthestate’sgoalsforclimatechangeadaptationandmitigation.Thesehabitatshavethepotentialtoprotectshorelinesfromsealevelrise,sequestercarbon,andlocallyameliorateOAbyremovingCO2fromoceanwaters(seagrasses,kelp)andbyremovingnutrientsandorganiccarbonfromrunoff(saltmarshes).34Thestatecurrentlysupportsseagrass,saltmarsh,andkelpconservation,restoration,andmanagementunderavarietyofauthoritiesandfundingmechanismsthatreflectallofthesediversebenefits.35Lookingahead,Californiahasanopportunitytodeliberatelyleveragethecollectivebenefitsofthestate’sseagrassmeadows,saltmarshes,andkelpforests,andtheplantsthatdominatethesesystems,forlocallyslowingOAandforstoringcarbon–atthesametimeastheselivingsystemsprovidemanyotherbenefits.Doingsowillrequiretreatingcurrentandfutureprotection,restoration,andmanagementprojectsandplacesasanetworkofsitesfor“learningbydoing”tohelpfillgapsincurrentunderstanding.Suchapproachesfortakingactioninthefaceofincompleteinformationarealreadywellestablishedinthestate’soceanmanagementpolicies.36Saltmarshcapacitiesforstoringcarbonandremovingwaterbornenutrients,forexample,havebeenwelldocumented.Nevertheless,understandingofhownutrientremovalbysaltmarshesmighttranslateintoreducedratesofOAinareassubjecttoagriculturalorurbanrunoffislimited.Similarly,althoughweknowthatcertainseagrassesandkelpscanlocallyameliorateOA,andthatseagrassmeadowsalsocansequestercarbon,wedonotyetknowenoughtoprescribespecificpracticesorplacesforoptimizingtheseOAandcarbonstoragebenefitsorforquantifyingtheireffects.37
34Neilsen,K.etal.(2018).EmergingUnderstandingofthePotentialRoleofSeagrassandKelpasanOceanAcidification
ManagementToolinCalifornia.CaliforniaOceanScienceTrust.35Examplesinclude:WithinstatemarineprotectedareasimplementedundertheMarineLifeProtectionActandstate
parks;ClimateReadyProgramgrantsadministeredbytheCaliforniaCoastalConservancy(http://scc.ca.gov/climate-change/);InvestmentsmadeundertheGreenhouseGasReductionFundtosecurecarbonsequestration;LeasingandlicensingofkelpbedsbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlife;ManagementofEstuarineResearchReservesandStateParks;ResearchanddevelopmentgrantsmadebytheCaliforniaOceanProtectionCouncil(http://www.opc.ca.gov/opc-climate-change-program/ocean-acidification-2/).
36ThelawsthatgovernstatemanagementoffisheriesandMPAs,TheMarineLifeManagementActandTheMarineLifeProtectionAct,eachsupportsanadaptivemanagementapproachthatincludesdeliberativeinformationgatheringandflexibledecision-makingasnewknowledgebecomesavailable.SeealsoBox2ofthisplan.
37Thepotentialcarbonstoragebykelpforestsundernaturalconditionsappearstobesmall,becausekelpsliveonhardsurfacesanddonotaccumulateorganicmaterialsinsedimentslikeseagrassesandsaltmarshesdo.However,kelpharvestedandremovedfromnaturalandmariculturesystemscanprovidegreaterandmorelastingcarbonstorageundercertaincircumstances.
![Page 28: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.28
Earlyinvestmentsbythestateinrelatedresearchisalreadyyieldingimportantinsights(seeFigure2).Implementingalargeranddeliberativeapproachtolearningfromexperienceacrossthenetworkofstateinvestmentsinlivingsystems(seagrasses,saltmarshes,kelp)tohelpslowlocalOAandstorecarbon,wouldspeeddevelopmentofimprovedmethodsformanagingthesesystemsandaccountingfortheirOAandcarbonstoragebenefits.Thesegainswouldimprovethestate’sabilitytooptimizefutureinvestmentsandoveralleffectiveness.5-YEARGOALS:
• RestorationofhealthyseagrassmeadowsacrossallofCalifornia’sestuariesisnowstatepolicyandiswellunderwayandfinanced.
• Stateinvestmentsintoseagrassmeadows,saltmarshes,andkelpforeststosecureOAameliorationandcarbonstoragebenefitsarestrategicandeffective.
• Aquacultureproductionsystemshavebeendeveloped,tested,andadopted,ifwarranted,thatintegratekelpandseagrasstoreduceOAandenhanceshellfishproductionandthatendeavortoenableco-locationofaquaculturewithsuccessfulseagrassconservation.
ACTIONS:
1. Implementacoordinatedandstrategicstatewideapproachtorestoring,conservingandassistinginthemigrationofseagrassmeadows,kelpforests,andsaltmarshestoachievemultiplestategoals.
• Mapcurrentandprojectedfuturehabitatspaceforseagrassmeadows,saltmarshes,andkelpforestsalongtheCaliforniacoastusingscientificallyvalidandreproduciblemethodsthatareverifiedthroughfieldsurveys.Futurehabitatprojectionsshouldincludeconsiderationofthestate’smostrecentguidanceonsealevelrise.Provideforpermanent,centralized,onlinearchivingandopenaccesstotheresultinginformationandmapstoinformpublicandprivatemanagementandpermittingdecisions.
• Accelerateinvestmentinconservingandrestoringthrivingeelgrassbedstothestateestuariesandbaysthroughfundingforgreenhousegasmitigation,waterquality,andnaturalresourcesprotection.38Testandadoptmethodstodrivedowncostsandimprovethesuccessrateofmanagement,restoration,andassistedmigrationofseagrassmeadows.
38Wherepossibleandadvisableinlightofsealevelrise,priorityshouldbegiventoconservingexistingeelgrass
meadows,saltmarshes,andkelpforests,becauseconservationislessexpensiveandmorelikelytosucceedthanrestoringlostordegradedsystemsorestablishingnewones.
![Page 29: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.29
• InventoryandacknowledgethepotentialOAandcarbonstoragebenefitsofseagrassmeadows,saltmarshes,andkelpforestsinthestatewidenetworkofMPAs.IntegrateresultsfromMPAmonitoringofOA(seeStrategy#2)intothelearningframeworkforthestate’ssystemofseagrassmeadowsandkelpforests.
• Usethegrowingnetworkofstateinvestmentsinplace-basedconservationandmanagementofseagrassmeadows,saltmarshes,andkelpforestsasasystemfor“learningbydoing”toidentifywhether,where,andhoweffectivelythesenaturalsystemscanameliorateOAandsequestercarbonovernear-andlong-termtimelinesandattendantimpactsonotherspeciesofmanagementconcern.Translateverifiedfindingsintoprescriptiveguidancetoimprovetargetingoffutureinvestmentsandtodevelopbestmanagementpractices.
2. EvaluateandadvanceaquacultureapproachesthatoptimizeOAameliorationandcarbonstorage,whilebenefitingshellfishproduction.
• Developandevaluatetheeffectivenessoftechnologiesandmanagementpracticesdesignedtoallowshellfishaquaculturetoco-existwiththeconservationofthrivingeelgrassbeds
• Buildoninitialeffortstodevelop,test,andapplycoupledaquacultureproductionsystemsthatenhanceshellfishproductionbyintegratingseagrassesorkelpstolocallyameliorateOA.
• Continuetodevelop,evaluate,andrefinekelp-farmingaquacultureasawaytolocallyameliorateOAwhileproducingcommercialproducts,suchasfood,biofuels,agriculturalamendments,andwaterpollutiontreatmentservices.
• Aswarrantedbyevaluationsoffeasibility,costeffectiveness,risks,andbenefits,expandapplicationsoftheaboveapproachesbyinvestingintechnicaltrainingandgreatersupportofextensiontotheaquacultureindustry,suchasthroughCaliforniaSeaGrantand/ortheUniversityofCaliforniaCooperativeExtension.
3.ExplorethepotentialofotherinnovativeoptionsfordeployinglivingsystemstoameliorateOAand/orstorecarbonwhiledeliveringothersocietalbenefits.
• Evaluatecurrentevidencedemonstratingtheabilityofothernaturaland
constructedlivingsystems(e.g.,non-kelpalgaeandoysterreefs)tolocallyameliorateOAand/orstorecarbonwhiledeliveringotherbenefitssuchasfoodproductionandshorelineprotectionfromsealevelrise.
• Supportpiloteffortstotesttheseapproachesinreal-worldsettingsaswarranted.
![Page 30: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.30
Strategy#5–BuildResilienceofAffectedCommunities,Industries,&
Interests
MountinganeffectivecampaigntoreduceOA’sharmfulimpactsonCalifornia’snaturalassetsandpeoplewillrequirecomprehensive,coordinatedactionbygovernment,industry,andconservationentities.Thepeoplemostatrisk,aswellasthosewhodirectlyorindirectlycontributetoOA,mustparticipateindeveloping,launching,andensuringthesuccessofcollaborativesolutionsthatwillimproveandsustainsocietalresilienceandtheresilienceofcoastalandmarineecosystemsastheoceansacidify.39TodayinCaliforniathesignificanceofOAisnotyetwellappreciatedbeyondthescientificcommunityandarelativelysmallsetofpolicymakers.ThiscontrastswithplaceslikeWashingtonStateandtropicalislandnationslikeFiji,wheretheimminentandobviousrisksposedbyOAtokeyeconomicinterests(e.g.,oysteraquacultureandcoralreeftourism)haveheightenedpublicconcernsanddrivenindustryengagement.AlthoughthesignificanceofOAforCaliforniaisgreat,thestatehasnotyetdirectlyexperiencedhighprofile,newsworthy,orphotogenicevents.UnderstandingofOArisksandresponseoptionsacrosstheindustriesthatwillbemostdirectlyaffected–aquacultureandfisheries–isuneven,andOAisnotyetahighpriorityfortheleadersofcoastaltowns,cities,orcounties.OurchallengeinCaliforniaisnotsimplytocommunicateinformationaboutOAmoreeffectivelyandtomoreaudiences;itistobroadenownershipoftheproblemandofitssolutions,sothatthesolutionsimplementedbythestateareequitableandsociallyacceptableaswellastechnicallyandfinanciallyfeasible.TheimportanceofdoingsohasbeenamplydemonstratedthroughCalifornia’sextensiveexperiencesmanagingoceanfisheriesandecosystemsandundertakingclimatechangemitigationandadaptation.Manymorepeoplewillneedtobringtheirenergiesandideasintothemixforustosucceed.Fortunately,California’spastdecadeofexperiencewithclimatechangehasyieldedgoodmodelsforengagingdiverseinterestsandgovernmententitiesatalllevels(localtostatewide)tohelpbuildadaptivecapacityandresilience.Thesegenerallyinvolveestablishingmechanismstosurfaceandaddresstheneedsofaffectedgroups;developingandfacilitatingthesharingofknowledge,tools,andguidance;andmaintainingongoinginteractionstoensurealignmentofstate-ledprogramswiththe
39Californiadevelopedanoperationalapproachto“resilience”inestablishingtheIntegratedClimateAdaptationandResiliencyProgramcalledforinSB246(Wieckowski,2015).Identifiedelementsofresilienceinclude:peopleandcommunitiesrespondtochangingconditionsinwaysthatminimizerisksandmaximizeequityandprotectionofthemostvulnerable;naturalsystemsadjustandmaintainfunctioningecosystemsinthefaceofchange;andinfrastructureandbuiltsystemswithstandchangingconditionswhilecontinuingtoprovideessentialservices.Fordetailsseehttp://opr.ca.gov/planning/icarp/tac/.
![Page 31: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.31
goalsandchallengesfacedbylocalandregionalentities.ThelegislativelymandatedIntegratedClimateAdaptationandResiliencyProgram,establishedin2015intheGovernor’sOfficeofPlanningandResearch,performsthesefunctionsforthestate’sclimatechangeeffortsandcouldhelpsupportsimilareffortsrelatedtoOAandassistinintegratingOAwithexistingplanning,hazardmitigation,andclimateandsealevelriseadaptationefforts.405-YEARGOALS:
• Californiahasawell-informed,well-functioning,andhighlycollaborativeOAconstituencythatishelpingtoidentifyandadvanceinnovativeandeffectivestrategiesforsustainingcommunity,industry,andecosystemresilienceasOAintensifies.
• Drawingontheknowledgeandtalentsofpeoplefromindustry,publicagencies,tribes,andthescientificcommunity,aquacultureandfisheriesmanagementinCaliforniaisadaptingtoOAthroughimprovedtechnologies,tools,andmanagementflexibility.
• TheconstituencyforCalifornia’scoastalandoceanecosystemsisadvancingtractableoptionsforsecuringecosystemresilienceastheoceansacidify.
ACTIONS:
1. EngageinterestedpartiesfromacrossthepublicandprivatesectorstosharelearningandtakeactiontoaddressOA
• EstablisharepresentativestatewideadvisorygroupthatincludesthediverseintereststhatwillaffectandbeaffectedbyOAaswellastechnicalandpolicyexperts–includingfishing,aquaculture,agriculture,tribes,municipalities,counties,watermanagement,conservation,wastewatertreatment,stateandfederalagencies,andscientistsfromrelevantdisciplines.Thisgroupwilladvisethestateonitspolicy,management,science,andcommunicationsprioritiesandstrategies,startingwiththeStatewideVulnerabilityAssessmentdescribedinStrategy#1.
• UseCalifornia’sconveningandknowledge-sharingprocessesforclimatechangeadaptationandscienceinCaliforniatoshareandaccelerateinnovationandlearningaboutOA.PossibleoptionsincludethebiennialCaliforniaAdaptationForum,theonlineAdaptationClearinghouse,andperiodicCaliforniaClimateChangeSymposia.41
40FormoreabouttheIntegratedClimateAdaptationandResiliencyProgramseehttp://opr.ca.gov/planning/icarp/.41ThebiennialCaliforniaAdaptationForumgatherstogetherclimateadaptationpractitioners
(http://www.californiaadaptationforum.org).TheonlineAdaptationClearinghouseprovidesacentralizedinformationrepositoryandishostedbytheIntegratedClimateAdaptationandResiliencyProgram(http://www.opr.ca.gov/clearinghouse/adaptation/).ThestateperiodicallyconvenesCaliforniaClimateChange
![Page 32: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.32
• DevelopacampaigntoraisepublicawarenessaboutOAanditscauses,impacts,andsolutionsinCalifornia.Thecampaignshouldclearlyspecifythecommunicationgoals,targetaudiences,anticipatedoutcomes,andimpactmeasures,andshouldincorporateameansofevaluatingeffects.
• Establishguidanceandextension-typetechnicalsupporttospeedintegrationofOAintoplanningandoperationsofpotentiallyaffectedcommunitiesandindustries(e.g.,coastalcitiesandtowns;tribes;portsandharbors;aquaculture,fisheries,coastaltourismindustries).Delivertargetedindustry-andcommunity-specificadviceandinformationproducts.
2. Advanceresilienceoftheaquacultureindustry
• FacilitatepartnershipsthatbringtogethermembersoftheaquacultureindustryandthescientificcommunitytofullyunderstandimplicationsofOAfortheindustryandtosolvepracticalproblems.42
• BuildOAmonitoringcapacitiesandinstrumentationathatcherylocationsinCaliforniaattherightlevelofspatialandtemporalresolutiontoassistindustryinanticipatingandrespondingtoOA.
• PartnerwithaquacultureexpertsintheNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministrationtofacilitateproduceraccesstofederalinformationresources,includingmonitoringandobservations,sciencefindings,andspatialanalysisandplanningtoenhancethesitingandmanagementofaquaculturefacilitiesinlightofOAprojections.
3. Advanceresilienceofthefisheriesindustry
• ImplementprovisionsoftherevisedMarineLifeManagementActMaster
Planthatcallforadaptivefisheriesmanagementunderchanginganduncertainconditions.Developpolicymechanismstosupportregulatoryflexibilityasconditionsshiftand/ornewinformationbecomesavailable.
• Developscience-basedpracticesforhowOAcanbestbeintegratedintothestate’sevolvingtoolsforflexiblymanagingchangingfisheryresources,suchasscenario-basedmodelstoexplorealternativemanagementoptionsandscience-basedtriggersandthresholdsfordecision-making.
• Advancecapacitiesofmembersofthefishingcommunitytoidentifyandrespondtoshiftsintherelativeabundancesofdifferenttargetspecies.
• EncouragethePacificFisheriesManagementCounciltotakestepstobetterunderstandtheimplicationsofOAforWestCoastfisheriesandto
Symposiatosharetheresultsofresearchsupportedtoinformstateadaptationandmitigationstrategies(http://californiascience.org).
42Examplesinclude:developmentofdurable,lowcost,andeasytousemonitoringtechnologies;technicaltraininginOAmonitoringequipment;anddevelopmentofOAresistantbroodstock.
![Page 33: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.33
integratethisunderstandingintofisheriesmanagementscienceanddecisions.
• Supportsciencetounderstandanddevelopscenario-basedprojectionsoftheeffectsofOAactinginconcertwithotherenvironmentalchangesonCalifornia’sfisheryfoodwebs,productivity,andecosystems.Translatethisinformationintoaformthatmakesitusefulandusabletomembersofthefishingcommunityandtostatemanagersformakingfisheries-relateddecisions.
4.Advanceresilienceofcoastalandoceanecosystems
• Establisharepresentativeworkinggroupofthosepublicandprivatesectorintereststhatdependonorsustainadeepinterestinthehealthofnaturalcoastalandoceanecosystems–includingtourism,recreation,coastalmunicipalities,harbors,parksandreserves,andconservationorganizations,andrelevantscientificexperts.
• TheworkinggroupwillexaminetheimplicationsofOAforecosystemresilienceandsocietalbenefitswithinthecontextofotherongoingenvironmentalchangesandwillidentifypublicpolicyoptionstohelpsustainecosystemresilienceasconditionsacidify.
• Communicatefindingsoftheworkinggrouptopublicandprivatesectorleadersandsupportpilotprojectstotesttheidentifiedoptions.
Strategy#6–EngageBeyondStateBoundaries
BecausetheCaliforniaOceanAcidificationActionPlanisastateplan,Strategies#1-5appropriatelyfocusonanticipatingandmeetingstateneeds.TheydovetailwithandexpandupontheeffortsalreadyundertakenbyCaliforniatocombatgreenhousegasemissions,adapttoclimatechange,andsecurethehealthandproductivityofoceanecosystemsandfisheriesinachangingworld.Althoughessential,thesestate-focusedstrategiesandactionsarenotenough.OAisplayingoutonaglobalstage,andwillaffecteverynationandcommunitywhoseeconomicandsocialwellbeingdependsuponhealthyoceans.AndtheprimarycauseofglobalOAisglobalGHGemissions.JustasCaliforniahashelpedoverthepastdecadetoadvancethegrowthofinternationaleffortstoreduceemissions,sotooitmusthelpbuildthemomentumofinternational,national,andregionaleffortstocombatOA.Thestatehasmuchtocontribute,butalsowillbenefitgreatly.Byworkingbeyondstateboundaries,Californiacanlearnmuchfromexperiencesinotherjurisdictionsandgeographiesandaccomplishmorethanitcouldonitsown.
![Page 34: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.34
ThroughmembershipinthePacificCoastCollaborative,CaliforniaalreadyisworkingcooperativelywiththestatesofOregon,Washington,andAlaska,aswellasBritishColumbia,onclimatechangeandemissionsreductions.43TheWestCoastscaleistherightoneforaddressingcertainOAissues,becauseoftheregion’ssharedoceansystems,biologicalresources,andpolicyandeconomicinterests.TheWestCoastwastheorganizinggeographyforCalifornia’sinitialeffortstoaddressOAthroughtheWestCoastOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaSciencePanel.Lookingahead,itmakesgoodsense,forexample,tobuildtechnicalcapacitiesforobservingandunderstandingOAatthisregionalscale,whichshouldbeexpandedtoincludeMexico.Atthenationallevel,theNOAAOceanAcidificationProgramhasbeensupportingimportantworkonOAsinceitsestablishmentin2011byinvestinginobservationnetworksandmonitoringinstrumentation,researchonspeciessensitivity,oceanographicandecosystemmodeling,socialscience,education,andcommunication,andstakeholderengagement.44TheprogramprovidesCaliforniawithagoodentrypointforlinkingtofederalOAresearch,development,andapplicationscapacities.ThePacificCoastCollaborativeandthefederalInteragencyWorkingGrouponOceanAcidificationhaveinitiatedastrongpartnershiponregionalmonitoringandobservation.Morebroadly,thefederalgovernmentwillsignificantlyinfluencewhetherandhowthestateachievesmanygoalsoutlinedintheActionPlan,throughitsmanagementoffisheriesandecosystemsinfederalwatersanddiverseprogramsandresponsibilitiesthataffectwaterqualityandrunoff.TherecentestablishmentoftheInternationalAlliancetoCombatOceanAcidification(ofwhichCaliforniawasafoundingmember),with60membersrepresentinggovernments,industry,academiaandnon-profitorganizations,inadditiontotherecentefforttodevelopanOAactionplanfor14countriesinLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean,signalgrowingattentiontoOAworldwide.45Theopportunitynowistotransformthiselevatedattentionintoacoherentinternationalinitiativethatspeedsprogressandenhancesthecollectivesuccessofallparticipants.5-YEARGOALS:
• RegionalcollaborationonOA-relatedpolicy,science,andcommunicationsacrosstheWestCoastisrobust,withefficient,effective,coordinatedresponsesacrosstheregion.
43FormoreonthePacificCoastCollaborativeseehttp://pacificcoastcollaborative.org.44ForfurtherinformationabouttheNOAAOceanAcidificationProgramsee
https://oceanacidification.noaa.gov/WhoWeAre.aspx.TheprogramhelpssupporttherecentlylaunchedOceanAcidificationInformationExchange(https://www.oainfoexchange.org/index.html),anonlineforumforcollaborative,multi-sector,teamsthataretacklingtechnical,communication,orpolicyandmanagementissuesrelatedtoOA.
45FormoreabouttheOAplanningeffortforLatinAmericaandtheCaribbeanseehttps://www.iucn.org/news/secretariat/201804/latin-american-and-caribbean-countries-threatened-rising-ocean-acidity-experts-warn.
![Page 35: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.35
• Californiastateagenciesarepartneringcloselywithrelevantfederalagenciestoleverageinvestmentsandtoensureactionsinstateandfederalwatersarewellalignedandcoordinatedwhereneeded.
• CaliforniaishelpingtoleadaninternationalcoalitionthatisspurringworldwideactiononOAandimprovingattentiontooceansininternationalclimatenegotiations.
ACTIONS:
1. ParticipateinandhelptoleadWestCoastregionalinitiativesthatwillyieldsignificantefficiencies,speedlearning,andadvancecollectiveprogressinreducingthecausesandimpactsofOAacrosstheCaliforniaCurrent.
• DevelopintegratedmonitoringandobservationcapacitiesandfillcriticalinformationgapsessentialforbuildingregionalunderstandingofOApatterns,processes,andfuturescenarios(seealsoStrategy#1).
• Support,lead,andengageinregionalvenues,suchasthePacificCoastCollaborative,forrapidlysharingtheimprovedscientificunderstandingandpolicyandtechnicalinnovationsandinsightsderivedfromparticipatinggovernments’investmentsandexperiencesdevelopingandimplementingactionplans.
• Improvealignment,wherebeneficial,betweenCalifornia’sactionsandtheactionstakenbyotherWestCoastjurisdictionstoimprovetheregion’saggregateefficiencyandimpacts.
• CollaboratewithotherWestCoaststatestospeakwithonevoiceinidentifyingpriorityneedsandpartneringopportunitieswiththeFederalgovernment,includingthoserelatedtooceanresourcesmanagement(e.g.,fisheries,aquaculture,renewableenergy)andscience(e.g.,monitoringandobservations,spatialplanning).
2. Buildnational-levelpartnershipsthatwillsimultaneouslyimproveCalifornia’s
successinimplementingthisActionPlanwhileadvancingfederalOA-relatedefforts.
• ContinuecollaborationwiththeNOAAOceanAcidificationProgramandthefederalInteragencyWorkingGrouponOceanAcidificationtocoordinateresearchandmonitoringinvestmentsandefforts.
• Participateinnational-levelforumsandteams,suchastheOceanAcidificationInformationExchange,thatfacilitateknowledgesharingandcollaborativeproblemsolvingamongdifferentregionsoftheUnitedStates.
• BuildcooperativepartnershipswithCalifornia’sNationalMarineSanctuaries,NationalEstuaries,andNationalEstuarineResearchReservesthatwillaidinaccomplishingtheActionPlangoals.
![Page 36: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.36
• SeizeopportunitiesforleveragingCalifornia’sActionPlanandOAaccomplishmentstosupportnationalOAeffortsundertheFederalOceanAcidificationResearchandMonitoringActof2009(FORAM)andtheStrategicPlanforFederalResearchandMonitoringofOceanAcidification.46
3. HelpbuildtheinternationalcoalitiontoraiseglobalunderstandingofOAandto
spuractionstobothadapttoandreducethecausesofOA.• ProvidecontinuedleadershipandsupportfortheInternationalAlliance
toCombatOceanAcidification,andpartnercloselywithrelevantinternationaloceanclimateinitiativesandallianceswhereapplicable.
• AmplifyandsharetheCaliforniamodelforelevatingattentiontoOAinclimatechangemitigationandadaptationandoceanstewardshippoliciesandactions,includingthroughparticipationintheConferenceofthePartiesconvenedundertheUnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChange.47
• ImportlessonsfromothergeographiesthatwillhelptospeedandimproveCalifornia’sOAefforts.
46ThetextofFORAMcanbefoundathttps://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr14/BILLS-111hr14ih.pdf.47Seehttps://unfccc.int.
![Page 37: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.37
MovingForwardwithBoldAction
ThisActionPlanhaslaidoutacourseofactionthat,whenitissuccessfullyimplemented,willfundamentallyalterhowCaliforniansviewandaddressOA.ThestatewillhavethepoliticalwillandknowledgetotakeeffectiveactiontoreduceOAcauses,toimprovetheresilienceofvulnerablegroups,andtomanagemarineresourcesinnewwaysthatminimizeharmfulsocialandenvironmentalimpactswhilebolsteringresilience.Tobeeffective,theseimprovementsmustaddressOAwithinthecontextofthechangingclimate,escalatingandshiftinghumanuses,andotherchangesthataresignificantlyalteringCalifornia’scoastalandoceanenvironmentsandecosystems.Historically,attentiontotheoceansinstate,national,andinternationalpoliciestomitigategreenhousegasemissions(thebiggestcauseofOA)andtoadapttoclimatechangehasbeensomewhatlow.Atthesametime,oceanresourcemanagershavebeenslowerindevelopingpracticalframeworksandtoolsforanticipatingandadaptingtoclimatechangethantheircounterpartswhomanagelandandfreshwaterresources.California’sOceanAcidificationActionPlanwillhelptobridgethisgapbytakingconcretestepsforaddressingOAwithinthecontextofthestate’sambitiousandwell-establishedpoliciesforoceanmanagementandclimatechange.ThisinnovativeapproachwillcontinuethestateonthepathalreadyforgedbyCalifornia’snationalandgloballeadershiponreducinggreenhousegasemissions.EffectiveimplementationoftheActionPlanwillrequirebroadadoptionandassertiveactionbyallthose,insideandoutsideofstategovernment,whohaveimportantrolestoplay.Overthecomingyear,theActionPlanwillbewidelysharedacrossthestate,regionally,andatinternationalforums.Relatedinformationandcommunicationtoolswillbeavailableviahttp://www.opc.ca.gov/oa-action-plan/forusebyanyoneseekingtoadvanceandcontributetoCalifornia’sefforts.Ultimately,though,thespeedandsuccessofCalifornia’seffortstocombatOAwilldependoncommitmentsofleadership,capacity,andfundingfromacrossstategovernment,thelegislature,andtheprivatesector.Byholdingourselvesaccountableforresults,wecanmakeprogressinbetterunderstandingandaddressingOA,andindoingsosecureabetterfutureforallCalifornians.
![Page 38: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.38
Appendix1:CorrespondenceoftheCaliforniaActionPlantogoalsoftheInternationalAlliancetoCombatOceanAcidification
TheInternationalAlliancetoCombatOceanAcidification(OAAlliance)bringstogetherjurisdictionsacrosstheglobetocombatoceanacidificationandchangingoceanconditionsasanimmediateandcriticalthreattocoastaleconomiesandoceanecosystems.IndividualOAAlliancemembersarecommittedtosupportingtheworkoftheOAAlliancebroadly,andarecommittedtotakingmeaningfullocalactionsbycraftingtheirownuniqueOceanAcidificationActionPlan,withparticularfocusonadvancingthefivegoalsoftheAlliance’sCalltoAction.TheCalltoActionprovidesanimmediateopportunityforpartiesacrosstheglobetohighlightoceanacidificationasanimminentthreattocoastaleconomiesandoceanecosystems,whiletheActionPlanswillhelpgovernmentscreateactionableresponsestothreatsintheirregionsandwillhelpaffiliatemembersbestleveragetheirexpertiseandresourcesonthisissue.
THEFIVEGOALSOFTHEINTERNATIONALALLIANCETOCOMBATOCEANACIDIFICATION StrategiesforActioninthe
CaliforniaOceanAcidificationActionPlan
AdvanceScientificUnderstanding
ReduceCausesofOA BuildAdaptation&Resilience
ExpandPublicAwareness
BuildSustainedInternationalSupport
#1–PreparefortheFullRangeofOARisksandImpacts
X X X
#2–ActivateResponsibleElementsofStateGovernment
X X X X
#3–ReducethePollutionthatCausesOA
X X X X #4–DeployLivingSystemstoSlowOAandStoreCarbon
X X X #5–BuildResilienceofAffectedCommunities,Industries,&Interests
X X X X
#6–EngageBeyondStateBoundaries
X X X X X
![Page 39: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/39.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.39
Appendix2:ConsultationandReviewProcessesthatInformedtheCaliforniaOceanAcidificationActionPlan
TheCaliforniaOceanAcidificationActionPlanbenefittedgreatlyfromtheeffortsofmanypeoplewhogenerouslycontributedtheirtimeandthoughtfulinputintothePlan’sdevelopment.TheActionPlan’sdevelopmentwasinformedbytheideasandadviceofmorethan70peoplefromacrosstheaquacultureandfisheriesindustries,stateandnationalgovernments,privatephilanthropy,andthescientificcommunity.Mostwereconsultedthroughphoneorin-personinterviewsthatsolicitedtheirviewsabouttheplan’s10-yearvision,specifictractableactionstoincludeintheplan,andhowtoensuretheplan’sadoptionandsuccessfulimplementation.California’snewlyconvenedOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaScienceTaskForce[establishedunderAssemblyBill2139(Williams,2016)]providedscientificandtechnicalinputtothedraftplandevelopmentrelatedtomonitoringandobservations,applicationsofSAV,andwaterqualityissuesanddevelopedthesupportingscienceplan(forthcomingAppendix5).TheinitialdraftoftheActionPlanwasreviewedforscientificfeasibilitybytheOAHScienceTaskForceandforpolicyfeasibilitybyagroupofpolicyexperts.IntervieweesSaraAminzadeh,ExecutiveDirector,CaliforniaCoastkeeperAlliance
ClarissaAnderson,ExecutiveDirector,SouthernCaliforniaCoastalOceanObservingSystem(SCCOOS)
MatthewArmsby,ProgramOfficer/Attorney,ResourcesLegacyFund
DebbieAseltine-Neilsen,SeniorEnvironmentalScientistSpecialist,MarineRegion,CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlife
SusanAshcraft,SeniorEnvironmentalScientistandMarineAdvisor,CaliforniaFishandGameCommission
BetsyBehl,DivisionDirector,HealthandEcologicalCriteriaDivision,USEnvironmentalProtectionAgency
JonathanBishop,ChiefDeputyDirector,CaliforniaStateWaterResourcesControlBoard
ElliotBourgeault,SeniorPolicyAnalyst,ClimateActionSecretariat,BritishColumbia,Canada
![Page 40: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/40.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.40
CarenBraby,ProgramManager,MarineResourcesProgram,DepartmentofFishandWildlife,Oregon
MariaBrown,Superintendent,GreaterFarallonesNationalMarineSanctuary,NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration
ShallinBusch,Ecologist,NationalOceanAcidificationProgramandNorthwestFisheriesScienceCenter,NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration
MarkCarr,Professor,Ecology&EvolutionaryBiologyDepartmentandInstituteofMarineSciences,UniversityofCalifornia,SantaCruz
MargaretCaldwell,DeputyDirector,Oceans,ConservationandScience,TheDavidandLucilePackardFoundation
FrancisChan,AssociateprofessorandSeniorResearcher,DepartmentofZoology,OregonStateUniversity
WilliamCraven,ChiefConsultant,CaliforniaStateSenate
AimeeDavid,DirectorofOceanConservationPolicyStrategies,MontereyBayAquarium
WilliamDouros,WestCoastRegionalDirector,OfficeofNationalMarineSanctuaries,NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration
JamesEckman,Director,CaliforniaSeaGrant
JuliaEkstrom,ClimateAdaptationProgramDirector,CoastalandMarineSciencesInstitute,UniversityofCalifornia,Davis
ChadEnglish,ProgramOfficer,ConservationandScience,TheDavidandLucilePackardFoundation
RebeccaFitzgerald,Manager,WaterQualityStandardsandAssessmentSection,CaliforniaStateWaterResourcesControlBoard
AlexHarper,ProgramManager,CentralandNorthernCaliforniaOceanObservingSystem
ElliotHazen,AssociateResearcher,NationalMarineFisheriesServicesatLongMarineLab,InstituteofMarineSciences
TessaHill,Professor,DepartmentofEarth&PlanetarySciences,andAssociateDirector–AcademicPrograms,BodegaMarineLaboratory,UniversityofCalifornia,Davis
GretchenHofmann,ProfessorandChair,DepartmentofEcologyEvolutionandMarineBiology,UniversityofCalifornia,SantaBarbara
SaraHutto,OceanClimateProgramCoordinator,GreaterFarallonesNationalMarineSanctuary,NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration
ClaireJahns,Clair,AssistantSecretaryforNaturalResourcesClimateIssues,CaliforniaNaturalResourcesAgency
![Page 41: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/41.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.41
EmilyJeffers,StaffAttorney,OceansProgram,CenterforBiologicalDiversity
MarthaKongsgaard,Kongsgaard-GoldmanFoundation
KristyKroeker,AssistantProfessor,Ecology&EvolutionaryBiologyDepartment,InstituteofMarineSciences,UniversityofCalifornia,SantaCruz
DanLaffoley,SeniorAdvisor,MarineScienceandConservation,InternationalUnionfortheConservationofNature,andMarineViceChair,WorldCommissiononProtectedAreas
JohnLaird,CaliforniaSecretaryforNaturalResources
GeorgeLeonard,ChiefScientist,OceanConservancy
PhillipLevin,LeadScientistandProfessor-of-Practice,TheNatureConservancyandtheUniversityofWashington
HeatherLudemann,ProgramOfficer,ConservationandScience,TheDavidandLucilePackardFoundation
JayManning,PartneratCascadiaLawGroup,EnvironmentalAttorneys
SarahNewkirk,CoastalProgramDirector,TheNatureConservancy
MichaelNorthrop,ProgramDirector,SustainableDevelopmentGrantmakingProgram,RockefellerBrothersFund
NoahOppenheim,ExecutiveDirector,PacificCoastFederationofFishermen’sAssociations
DianePleschner-Steele,ExecutiveDirector,CaliforniaWetfishProducersAssociation
TerrySawyer,Terry,FoundingPartnerandVicePresident,HogIslandOysterCompany
MatthewRodriquez,CaliforniaSecretaryforEnvironmentalProtection
AmandaSantoni,CoastalManagementFellow,NOAADelawareCoastalPrograms
CraigShuman,MarineRegionManager,CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlife
MarySmall,ChiefDeputyExecutiveOfficer,CaliforniaCoastalConservancy
BruceSteele,Captain,F/VHalcyon
MarkStone,Member,CaliforniaStateAssembly
AaronStrong,AssistantProfessor,SchoolofMarineSciences,UniversityofMaineatOrono
LisaSuatoni,SeniorScientist,NaturalResourcesDefenseCouncil
MarthaSutula,PrincipalScientist,SouthernCaliforniaCoastalWaterResearchProject
DanielSwezey,LeadScientist,TheCulturedAbaloneFarm,LLC
ValerieTermini,ExecutiveDirector,CaliforniaFishandGameCommission
![Page 42: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/42.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.42
DanaThomas,EnvironmentalScientist,U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency
JessieTurner,PolicyandGovernmentAffairsSpecialist,CascadiaLawGroup,EnvironmentalAttorneys
KirstenWasson,ResearchCoordinator,ElkhornSloughNationalEstuarineResearchReserve
SteveWeisberg,ExecutiveDirector,SouthernCaliforniaCoastalWaterResearchProject
DianeWindham,SouthwestRegionalAquacultureCoordinator,NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration
AmyWolfrum,CaliforniaOceanConservationPolicyManager,MontereyBayAquarium
DebWilson-Vandenberg,SeniorEnvironmentalScientist,CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlife
MembersoftheCaliforniaOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaScienceTaskForceSteveWeisberg,Co-chair,SouthernCaliforniaCoastalWaterResearchProject
FrancisChan,Co-chair,OregonStateUniversity
JimBarry,MontereyBayAquariumResearchInstitute
AlexandriaBoehm,StanfordUniversity
ShallinBusch,NorthwestFisheriesScienceCenter,NOAA
SarahCooley,OceanConservancy
RichardFeely,PacificMarineEnvironmentalLaboratory,NOAA
LisaLevin,UniversityofCalifornia,SanDiegoPolicyexpertswhoreviewedtheinitialdraftoftheActionPlanKenAlex,Director,Governor’sOfficeofPlanningandResearch
MattArmsby,ProgramOfficer/Attorney,ResourcesLegacyFund
LisaSuatoni,SeniorScientist,NaturalResourcesDefenseCouncil
VirgilWelch,SpecialCounseltotheChair,CaliforniaAirResourcesBoard
![Page 43: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/43.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.43
Appendix3:MeasuresforAssessingProgressinImplementingthePlan
Strategy 5-YearGoals
MeasuresofProgress
#1–PreparefortheFullRangeofOARisksandImpacts
• TherisksOAposestoCalifornia’sassetsandinterestsarewellunderstoodamongpolicy-makers,managers,affectedindustriesandcommunitiesandthepublic.
• Decision-relevantmonitoringinformationaboutOAiswidelyavailable,deliveredinausableform,androutinelyappliedtodecisionsacrossthepublicandprivatesectors.
• ImprovedscientificunderstandingofhowOA,andtheinteractionsofOAwithotherenvironmentaldrivers,affectscoastalandmarineecosystemsisinformingstateresource,landuse,andoceanandcoastalmanagementdecisions.
• Newpoliciesandinvestmentsarebeingmadetoaddresskeyrisksandgapsinadaptivecapacityidentifiedthroughthestate’sOAvulnerabilityassessment.
• Californiaandthestate’sfederal,academic,andregionalpartnersalongthewestcoastaredevelopingamonitoring&observation(M&O)systemoptimizedtodeliverdecision-relevantinformation.
• ElementsoftheM&OframeworkthatarecriticalformakingpolicyandmanagementdecisionsinCaliforniaarereceivingsustainedsupport.
• InformationdeliveredbytheM&Oframeworkisopenlyavailableonthewebandcanbemanipulatedanddisplayedgraphicallywithuser-friendlydecision-supporttoolsthatmeettheneedsofkeyaudiencesandusers.
• ImprovedunderstandingofpotentialimpactsofOAinteractingwithotherenvironmentalchangesonecosystemsandfoodwebsisinformingstateresourcemanagementdecisions.
#2–ActivateResponsibleElementsofStateGovernment
• AllrelevantstateagenciesaresuccessfullyintegratingthebestavailablescientificinformationaboutOAintodecisionsandpoliciesthathavethepotentialtocontributetoortoslowOAalongtheCaliforniacoastorthatdealwithbiologicalresources,industries,orcommunitieslikelytobeaffectedbyOA.
• StategovernmentisdoingasmuchasitcantominimizeharmtoCalifornia’sinterestsfromOAandtoanticipateandadapttothoseharmfulimpactsthatcannotbereduced.
• ThestateinteragencyOAworkinggroupisconvenedregularly,withhighparticipationbyallrelevantagenciesandprograms,andishighlyeffective.
• Allrelevantagencies–whosedecisionsaffectorwillbeaffectedbyOA–haveadoptedthestateOAguidance,integratedrelevantelementsoftheOAActionPlanintotheiroperations,andaremakingrelateddecisionsinformedbythebestavailableOAscience.
• StategovernmentisactivelyworkingtoreducetheglobalandlocalcausesofOA.
• StategovernmentactivelysupportingadaptationtoOAinthe
![Page 44: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/44.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.44
managementofcoastalandoceanbiologicalresourcesandamongaffectedindustriesandcommunities.
• Policy-makersandleadersinstategovernmentandtheLegislatureunderstandthesignificanceofOAandarepromotingstepstoreducethecausesandimproveresilience.
• California’sexperienceactivatingstategovernmenttoaddressOAishelpingtoinformapproachesadoptedbyotherstatesandnations.
#3–ReducethePollutionthatCausesOA
• AttentiontocoastalandoceansystemsandtoOAissystematicallyaddressedandelevatedinCalifornia’sGHGreductionefforts.
• Near-termoptionsforreducinglocalsourcesofacidifyingpollutants(voluntary,incentive-based,permitting)havebeenidentifiedandarefullyemployed.
• Thestatehasthetechnicaltoolsitneeds–includingscientificallyrobustwaterqualityindicatorsandthresholdsandappropriatemodelsforassessingcontributionsoflocalandglobalCO2inputs–tomeasureandevaluateOA-relatedchangesoccurringalongtheCaliforniacoast,toselectwaterqualitygoals,andtoinitiatemanagementorregulatoryactiontoslowtheserates,iffeasibleandappropriate.
• OpportunitiestoreduceGHGemissionsthroughcoastalandocean-basedactivities,industries,andinfrastructurehavebeensystematicallyexamined,andfeasibleoptionshavebeeninitiated.
• FundingdecisionsbytheGreenhouseGasReductionFundissupportcarbonsequestrationincoastalandoceansystems,considerOAimpacts,andadvanceresilienceofcommunitiesandindustriesvulnerabletoOA.
• ImpactsofCO2emissionsonOAandresultingenvironmentalandsocietalimpactsarewidelyunderstoodandacknowledgedinstateemissionsreductionefforts.
• AsignificantincreasehasoccurredinvoluntaryorincentivizedeffortstocurtailnutrientandorganiccarbonpollutionincoastalbaysandestuariesathighriskorOA.
• ThestatehasthetechnicaltoolsitneedforformeasuringandevaluatingacidificationchangesalongtheCAcoastandfordevelopingOA-relatedwaterqualitygoalsandstandards.
• Thestatehasidentifiedprioritylocationswhereinterventionsareneededtoreducesourcesofnutrientandorganiccarbonpollutionandistakingstepstoreducethesesourcesthroughregulatoryandnon-regulatorymeans.
#4–DeployLivingSystemstoSlowOAandStoreCarbon
• RestorationofhealthyseagrassmeadowsacrossallofCalifornia’sestuariesnowstatepolicyandiswellunderwayandfinanced.
• Stateinvestmentsintoseagrassmeadows,saltmarshes,and
• Targetedeffortsareunderway–guidedbymapsofcurrentandpotentialfuturehabitat–torestoreseagrassmeadowsacrossCalifornia’sestuaries.
• Scientificallyverifiedprinciplesandpracticesguideandenhancetheeffectivenessofstateinvestmentsintoseagrass
![Page 45: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/45.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.45
kelpforeststosecureOAameliorationandcarbonstoragebenefitsarestrategicandeffective.
• KelpandseagrassesarewellintegratedintoaquacultureproductionsystemstoreduceOAandenhanceshellfishproduction.
• Aquacultureproductionsystemshavebeentestedandadopted,asappropriate,thatintegratekelpandseagrassestoreduceOAandenhanceshellfishproductionandthatendeavortoenableco-locationofaquaculturewithsuccessfulseagrassconservation.
meadows,saltmarshes,andkelpforeststosecureOAandcarbonstoragebenefits.Theseprinciplesandpracticesareroutinelyupdatedtoincorporatenewinformation.
• EconomicallyviablemethodshavebeendevelopedthatintegrateseagrassesandkelpsintocommercialaquaculturetohelpmodulateOA.
• Methodstoenablethecoexistenceofaquaculturewithhealthyseagrassmeadowshavebeentestedandverifiedorrejected.
• OtherinnovativeoptionsforusinglivingsystemstoameliorateOAand/orstorecarbonwhiledeliveringotherbenefitsarebeingtested.
#5–BuildResilienceofAffectedCommunities,Industries,&Interests
• Californiahasawell-informed,well-functioningandhighlycollaborativeOAconstituencythatishelpingtoidentifyandadvanceinnovativeandeffectivestrategiesforsustainingcommunity,industry,andecosystemresilienceasOAintensifies.
• Drawingontheknowledgeandtalentsofpeoplefromindustry,publicagencies,tribes,andthescientificcommunity–aquacultureandfisheriesmanagementinCaliforniaisadaptingtoOAthroughimprovedunderstanding,technologies,andmanagementflexibility.
• TheconstituencyforCalifornia’scoastalandoceanecosystemsisadvancingtractableoptionsforsecuringecosystemresilienceastheoceansacidify.
• TherepresentativestatewideadvisorygrouphasbeenconvenedandcharteredandisadvisingthestateonOApriorities,improvingunderstandingamongkeyconstituencies,anddevelopingcollaborativestrategiesthatcrosssectorsandintereststoreduceandrespondtoOA.
• Thediversityofinterestsparticipatingintheadvisorygrouphasexpanded,reflectingbroadeningappreciationofOA’ssignificance,whowillbeaffected,andwhatcanbedonetoreducelocalratesandimpacts.
• ActiononOAisacceleratinginCalifornia.OAisnowaprominentelementofstate-sponsoredmeetingsandonlineresourcesdesignedtospeedinformationsharingaboutclimatechangeimpactsandresponseoptionsandoceanmanagement.
• GoodunderstandingaboutOAexistsacrosstheaquacultureandfisheriesindustries,andindustrymembersareactivelymonitoringOAanddevelopingapproachesforreducingOAimpactsthroughindustry,public,andscientificpartnerships.
• Awell-informedconstituencyforsustainingecosystemresiliencehascoalescedandispromotingpoliciestoachievethisoutcome.
#6–EngageBeyondState • RegionalcollaborationonOA-relatedpolicy,science,and • GovernmentsalongthewestcoastofNorthAmericaare
![Page 46: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/46.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.46
Boundaries communicationsacrosstheWestCoastissignificantlystrengthened,resultinginsubstantialimprovementstothespeed,efficiency,andeffectivenessofparticipatingmembers’OAefforts.
• Californiastateagenciesarepartneringcloselywithrelevantfederalagenciestoleverageinvestmentsandtoensureactionsinstateandfederalwatersarealignedandcoordinatedwhereneeded.
• CaliforniaishelpingtoleadaninternationalcoalitionthatisspurringworldwideactiononOAandimprovingattentiontooceansininternationalclimatenegotiations.
implementingaregionalsystemforintegratedOAmonitoringandobservation.Thesegovernmentsaremakingtargetedinvestmentstobuildthesystem.
• WestcoaststatesspeakwithaneffectiveunifiedvoiceinidentifyingOAprioritiesandpartneringwiththeFederalgovernment.
• Effectiveregional,national,andinternationalmechanismsandvenuesareinplacethatspeedsharingofOAinformation,technicaladvances,andpolicyinsights.TheStatehasestablishedcapacitiesandmechanismsforcontributingtoandbenefitingfromtheseprocesses.
• StateandfederalactionsaffectingorrespondingtoOAinoceanwatersoffofCaliforniaarealignedandcoordinated,whereappropriate.
• InternationalprogressonOA,asmeasuredbygrowthoftheinternationalcoalitionanddevelopmentofOAactionplans,isaccelerating.
![Page 47: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/47.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.47
Appendix4:Keyscience/technologyandcommunicationneedsidentifiedintheplanrequiredtoenableorimplementOApolicyormanagement
Strategy
Science/TechnologyNeeds
CommunicationNeeds
F#1–PreparefortheFullRangeofOARisksandImpacts
• Assesscurrentandfutureriskstospeciesofhighecologicalandeconomicvaluetothestate.
• Assesscurrentandfutureriskstoocean-dependentindustries–includingaquaculture,fisheries,andcoastaltourism.
• Conductsocialandeconomicresearchtoevaluatepotentialpublicpolicyinterventionsforbolsteringvulnerablecommunities’resilienceandadaptivecapacity.
• Finalizeasystemformonitoringinstate,federal,andcoast-widewatersthatwillassistthestateinunderstandingandprojectingfutureOApatternsandimpactsonbiologicalresources,communitiesandeconomies.
• ExpandandenhancecoupledenvironmentalandbiologicalmonitoringatthestatewideMPAnetworktoprovidethebaselineinformationessentialforunderstandingOAecosystemimpacts.
• Developweb-basedmappingtoolsthatshowcurrentandprojectedfuturescenariosofOAalongtheCAcoast.
• InvestindevelopingthescientificfoundationforunderstandingandprojectingthepotentialfutureecosystemimpactsofOAinteractingwithotherchangeprocessesandwhetheralleviatingotherstressorsandmarineprotectedareasmightsupportecologicaladaptationtoOA.
• Translateandcommunicateinformationaboutrisksvulnerabilities,andpotentialinterventionstoassistpolicy-makersandaffectedcommunitiesandindustriesinprioritizingandundertakingactionsforimprovingsocietaladaptivecapacity.
#2–FullyMobilizeStateGovernment
• Tosupporttheday-todaypolicyandmanagementdecisionsandactionsonOAbymemberagenciesandprogramsoftheworkinggroup,theOPCworkingincollaborationwiththeOAHScienceTaskForcewilloverseeproductionofascience
• ImproveunderstandingofOAanditssignificanceamongpolicy-makersandleadersinCalifornia’slegislatureandpublicagencies.
• Sharewithpolicy-makersoutsideofCalifornia
![Page 48: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/48.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.48
synthesisthattranslatescurrentOAscience(e.g.,OApatternsandprojections,causes,interactionswithotherenvironmentaldriversandchanges,impacts,anduncertainties)intoactionableknowledgeformthatisusefulforagencyandprogramdecision-making.
(domesticallyandinternationallylessonsandinsightsfromCalifornia’sexperienceelevatingattentiontoOAintothestate’spolicyframeworksforclimatechange(mitigation,adaptation),oceanstewardship(fisheries,wildlife,marineprotectedareas),andcoastalwaterquality.
#3–ReducethePollutionthatCausesOA
• Evaluatethepotentialforandtheenvironmental,economic,andsocialcostsandbenefitsofincentivizingconsumptionoflocallysourcedseafood.
• AssesswhetherlocalsourcesofacidifyingairborneemissionsareaffectingOAratesinselectregionsofthecoast.
• Developandbiologicallysignificantindicatorsandvalues(thresholds)thatcanaidinmeasuring,evaluating,andcommunicatingpHchangesoccurringalongtheCAcoastandserveaswaterqualitygoalsandtriggersformanagementorregulatoryaction.
• BuildoninitialeffortstoadvanceandvalidatespatiallyexplicitmodelsandanalyticaltoolsthataidinaccountingforandprojectingtherelativecontributionsofdifferentsourcestoongoingandfuturepHchangesalongtheCaliforniacoast.
• DevelopandamplifyclearmessagesthatidentifyOAasamajorimpactofglobalCO2emissionsandreductionofOAasamajorbenefitofthestate’sGHGreductionefforts.
• TargetcommunicationstowardskeyaudiencesinvolvedinwatershedandlandmanagementdemonstratingthepotentiallinkagesbetweenupstreammanagementanddownstreamOA.
#4–DeployLivingSystemstoSlowOAandStoreCarbon
• Mapcurrentandprojectedfuturehabitatforseagrasses,saltmarshes,andkelpsalongtheCaliforniacoast.
• Usethegrowingnetworkofstateinvestmentsinplace-basedconservationandrestorationofseagrassmeadows,saltmarshes,andkelpforestsasasystemfor“learningbydoing”toidentifywhether,where,andhoweffectivelythesenaturalsystemscanameliorateOAandsequestercarbonovernear-andlonger-termtimelines.Translatefindingsintoprescriptiveguidance.
• InventorytheOA&sequestrationbenefitsofseagrasses,saltmarshes,andkelpsinthestatewideMPAnetwork.
• Developimprovedandcost-effectivemethodsforrestoringandrelocatingseagrasses.
• Develop&testtechnologies&managementpracticesthat
• Shareinnovativeaquacultureproductionmethodsthroughtechnicaltrainingandextension.
![Page 49: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/49.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.49
mighenhancethecompatibilityofaquaculturewithseagrassconservation.
• Develop&testcoupledaquacultureproductionsystemsthatintegrateseagrassesorkelpwithshellfishtoreducelocalOA.
• IdentifyandtestthepotentialofotherlivingsystemstoameiliorateOAand/orstorecarbonwhiledeliveringotherbenefits.
#5–BuildResilienceofAffectedCommunities,Industries&Interests
• Support/facilitatepublic/private/scientificpartnershipstofullyunderstandOAimplicationsfortheaquacultureindustryandtosolvepracticalproblems.
• BuildOAmonitoringcapacitiesatCalifornia’shatcherylocations.
• Developscience-basedpracticesforintegratingOAintoadaptivefisheriesmanagement.
• Supportsciencetounderstandanddevelopscenario-basedprojectionsoftheeffectsofOAactinginconcertwithotherenvironmentalchangesonCalifornia’sfisheryfoodwebsandproductivity.
• Establisharepresentativestatewideadvisorygrouptoengageinsharedlearningandidentifyingneededactions.
• LeverageCalifornia’sconveningandknowledge-sharingprocessesforclimatechangeadaptationtoshareandaccelerateinnovationandlearningaboutOA.
• DevelopacampaigntoraisepublicawarenessaboutOAcauses,impactsandsolutions.
• Establishextension-typetechnicalsupporttospeedintegrationofOAintoplanning&operationsofpotentiallyaffectedindustries.
• Advancecapacitiesinthefishingindustrytoidentifyandrespondtoshiftingrelativeabundancesoffishedspecies.
• Communicatefindingsoftheworkinggrouponecosystemresiliencetopublicandprivatesectorleaders.
#6–EngageBeyondStateBoundaries
• Developintegratedregionalmonitoringandobservationscapacities.
• Support,lead,andengageinregionalvenuesforrapidlysharingimprovedscientificunderstandingandpolicy&technicalinnovationsandinsights.
• SeizeopportunitiesforleveragingCalifornia’sOAActionPlanandOAaccomplishmentstosupportnationalOAefforts.
• AmplifyandsharetheCAmodelforelevatingattentiontoOAinclimatechangemitigation&adaptationandoceanstewardshippoliciesandactions.
• ImportlessonsfromothergeographiestospeedandimproveCalifornia’sOAefforts.
![Page 50: California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to review the draft California Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This draft was developed](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042409/5f2681030c808d71083c3155/html5/thumbnails/50.jpg)
DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]
p.50
Appendix5:ASciencePlantoSupportImplementationoftheActionPlan
[AvailableOctober2018aspartofthefinalactionplan]