Ocean Acidification Task Force

Ocean Acidification

Unhealthy pteropod showing effects of ocean acidification including
ragged, dissolving shell ridges on upper surface, a cloudy shell in
lower right quadrant , and severe abrasions and weak spots
at 6:30 position on lower whorl of shell. Photo credit: NOAA

Ocean acidification in the coastal waters of New York is the result of greenhouse gas emissions combined with polluted runoff from land. This causes the formation of carbonic acid which makes the ocean increasingly acidic. This acidity can adversely affect many of the marine animals that call this environment home. Unfortunately, the current rate of change of ocean acidification is faster than any time on record and New York's ocean and coastal water environment has the potential to be particularly vulnerable.

The Ocean Acidification (OA) Task Force was established to ensure that the best available science is used to assess and respond to this emerging threat to New York's marine waters and fisheries. The task force will produce a report and action plan to identify how to:

• Mitigate: What can New York State do to reduce acidification in the water surrounding its coast, the Mid-Atlantic Bight, and the global oceans?
• Adapt: How can we minimize negative impacts of the inevitable changes on New Yorkers?

Additionally, the New York Ocean Action Plan (PDF) has dedicated steps to combat Ocean Acidification (Action 15) and increase the resilience of ocean resources to impacts associated with climate change.

All are welcome to observe our meetings as the Task Force introduces its members, reviews the purpose of the ocean acidification legislation, and hears from ocean acidification experts. The public will also have an opportunity to comment on the proceedings.

Meeting Resources

May 25, 2022 Meeting Documents

• May 25 - Meeting Recording
• May 25 - Meeting Agenda (PDF)

December 17, 2021 Meeting Documents

• December 17 - Meeting Recording
• December 17 - Meeting Agenda (PDF)
• December 17 - Meeting Minutes (PDF)
• December 17 - Presentation Notes (PDF)

December 3, 2019 Meeting Documents

• December 3 - Meeting Agenda (PDF)
• December 3 - Meeting Minutes (PDF)

January 22, 2019 Meeting Documents

• January 22 - Meeting Agenda (PDF)
• January 22 - Minutes Minutes (PDF)
• Presentation by Dr. Frank Roethel: Possible Remediation Measures for New York Coastal Waters (PDF)
• Presentation by Kyle Rabin: LINAP A Broad Plan to Mitigate Nitrogen Impact on Water Quality (PDF)
• Presentation by Christopher Gobler: Coastal ocean acidification: Dynamics and implications for marine life (Request a copy of this presentation by contacting FW.Marine@dec.ny.gov)

November 1, 2018 Meeting Documents

• November 1 - Meeting Agenda (PDF)
• November 1 - Meeting Minutes (PDF)
• Presentation by Dr. Janet Nye: Ocean acidification and New York (PDF)
• Presentation by Teresa Schwemmer: How State Governments Have Responded to Ocean Acidification (PDF)

Task Force Members

The OA Task Force is comprised of eleven appointed members, including experts in climatology, hydrology, economics, marine fisheries, aquaculture, oceanography, and ecology. As per the legislation that created the task force, these members have been appointed by the State Senate, the State Assembly, New York City, and Nassau and Suffolk counties, as well as representatives of the New York State Department of State and the Office of General Services.

As the lead agency, DEC's appointee, James Tierney, will be chair. The OA Task Force's efforts will be supported by DEC's Division of Marine Resources in East Setauket and faculty of the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University. See Stony Brook University's website for additional information on ocean acidification.

• Find on this Page
• • OA Task Force Members
• Important Links
• • New York Ocean Action Plan (PDF)
  • Ocean Acidification Task Force Meeting Flyer (PDF)
• Links Leaving DEC's Website
• • Stony Brook Ocean Acidification
  • NOAA Ocean Acidification
• PDF Help
• For help with PDFs on this page, please call 631-444-0430.
• Contact for this Page
• Division of Marine Resources
  123 Kings Park Blvd.
  (Nissequogue River State Park)
  Kings Park, New York 11754
  631-444-0430
  Send us an email
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