Fourth Report on Federally Funded Ocean Acidification Research And
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FOURTH REPORT ON FEDERALLY FUNDED OCEAN ACIDIFICATION RESEARCH AND MONITORING ACTIVITIES PRODUCT OF THE National Science and Technology Council December 2016 EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL WASHINGTON, D.C. 20502 December 20, 2016 Dear Colleagues: I am pleased to transmit to you the Fourth Report on Federally Funded Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Activities, a biennial report to Congress for Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015 that responds to the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 (P.L 111- 11, Subtitle D). This report was produced by the Interagency Working Group on Ocean Acidification, organized under the National Science and Technology Council; Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainability; Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology. The report summarizes Federally-funded ocean acidification research and monitoring activities, provides expenditures for these activities, and details how Federal agencies are implementing the 2014 Strategic Plan for Federal Research and Monitoring of Ocean Acidification in a coordinated and complementary manner. Unlike previous biennial reports on ocean acidification research and monitoring activities, this document is organized by geographic region so stakeholders can more easily find activities in their region of interest. The Obama Administration is deeply concerned about ocean acidification and committed to better understanding and addressing its impacts on America’s communities, economy, and environment. Many members of Congress share this concern and commitment and have supported Federal activities on ocean acidification. Sincerely, John P. Holdren Assistant to the President for Science and Technology Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy iii About the National Science and Technology Council The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) is the principal means by which the Executive Branch coordinates science and technology policy across the diverse entities that make up the Federal research and development (R&D) enterprise. One of the NSTC’s primary objectives is establishing clear national goals for Federal science and technology investments. NSTC prepares R&D packages aimed at accomplishing multiple national goals. The NSTC’s work is organized under five committees: Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainability; Homeland and National Security; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education; Science; and Technology. Each of these committees oversees subcommittees and working groups that are focused on different aspects of science and technology. More information is available at www.WhiteHouse.gov/ostp/nstc. About the Office of Science and Technology Policy The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) was established by the National Science and Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976. OSTP’s responsibilities include advising the President in policy formulation and budget development on questions in which science and technology are important elements; articulating the President’s science and technology policy and programs; and fostering strong partnerships among Federal, tribal, state, and local governments, and the scientific communities in industry and academia. The Director of OSTP also serves as Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and manages the NSTC. More information is available at www.WhiteHouse.gov/ostp. About the Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology The purpose of the Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (SOST) is to advise and assist on national issues of ocean science and technology. The SOST contributes to the goals for Federal ocean science and technology, including developing coordinated interagency strategies, and fosters national ocean science and technology priorities, including implementation of the National Ocean Policy. About the Interagency Working Group on Ocean Acidification The Interagency Working Group on Ocean Acidification (IWG-OA) advises and assists the SOST on matters related to ocean acidification, including coordination of Federal activities on ocean acidification and other interagency activities as outlined in the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-11, Subtitle D). About this Document This document was developed by the IWG-OA. The document was published by OSTP. Acknowledgements The IWG-OA thanks Dr. Dwight Gledhill from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Ocean Acidification Program for his contributions to the drafting of this document and Roxanne Nikolaus, SOST Chief of Staff, for her contributions to the editing of this document. iv Copyright Information This document is a work of the United States Government and is in the public domain (see 17 U.S.C. §105). Subject to the stipulations below, it may be distributed and copied with acknowledgement to OSTP. Copyrights to graphics included in this document are reserved by the original copyright holders or their assignees and are used here under the government’s license and by permission. Requests to use any images must be made to the provider identified in the image credits or to OSTP if no provider is identified. Printed in the United States of America, December 2016 v National Science and Technology Council Chair Staff John P. Holdren Afua Bruce Assistant to the President for Science Executive Director and Technology and Director Office of Science and Technology Policy Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainability Co-Chairs Staff Tamara Dickinson Lisa Matthews Principal Assistant Director for Environment and Executive Secretary Energy Environmental Protection Agency Office of Science and Technology Policy Tom Burke Science Advisor Environmental Protection Agency Kathryn Sullivan Undersecretary for Oceans and Atmosphere; Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Department of Commerce Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology Co-Chairs Staff Fabien Laurier Roxanne Nikolaus Office of Science and Technology Policy National Science Foundation Richard Merrick National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Richard W. Murray National Science Foundation vi Interagency Working Group on Ocean Acidification Chair Staff Libby Jewett Shallin Busch National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Vice Chairs David Garrison National Science Foundation Paula Bontempi National Aeronautics and Space Administration Members Krisa Arzayus Jason Grear National Oceanic and Atmospheric Environmental Protection Agency Administration Pete Leary Sean Bath United States Fish and Wildlife Service United States Navy Maxwell Mayeaux Jennifer Culbertson United States Department of Agriculture Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Whitman Miller Ned Cyr Smithsonian Institution National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Kenric Osgood National Oceanic and Atmospheric Eva DiDonato Administration National Park Service Brian Rappoli Liz Boeck Environmental Protection Agency Department of State Lisa Robbins Richard Feely United States Geological Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Chris Sabine National Oceanic and Atmospheric Steve Gittings Administration National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Kim Yates United States Geological Survey vii Table of Contents Executive Summary ………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………………………1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………2 Global………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3 National…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………11 United States Northeast………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..16 United States Mid-Atlantic…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….22 United States Southeast and Gulf Coast………………………………………………………………………………………………..24 United States West Coast………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………27 Alaska…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...33 United States Pacific Islands………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….35 Caribbean…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………..…..37 Arctic…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………..……39 Antarctic…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………..41 Appendix ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…..………..……..43 References………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………….55 Abbreviations………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………………..56 viii Executive Summary The ocean provides vital resources and services for sustaining humankind including food, recreation, transportation, energy, nutrient-cycling, and climate moderation. Through such resources and services, the ocean substantially contributes to the United States economy. Science is only beginning to indicate how changes in seawater chemistry due to ocean acidification may affect marine organisms and ecosystems and the resources and services they provide. But based on studies to date of acidification’s observed and projected impacts on a number of important classes of marine organisms, significant changes in marine ecosystems appear to be likely. This document is the fourth biennial summary and progress report submitted under the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 (FOARAM Act, P.L. 111-11, Subtitle D). The FOARAM Act specifies that the Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (SOST) under the National Science and Technology Council Committee on Environment,