To the editor:
Ocean water in the Pacific Northwest has historically been pretty cold. Countless species, such as Dungeness crab and rockfish, have adapted and become accustomed to this in their native ecosystems.
However, as the ever-present impacts of climate change continue to threaten natural spaces, oxygen deprivation (hypoxia) and ocean acidification are now things that these critters have to combat frequently.
It’s disheartening to hear that Oregon now has a “hypoxia season”, but there’s so much more we can do to better understand our changing ocean and how we can help the ecosystems off our shores. Thankfully, House Bill 4132 just passed through this year’s legislative session with overwhelming bi-partisan support, which will give additional funding to the Marine Reserves program, which is Oregon’s most successful ocean conservation program. Alongside the research being done at Oregon State University, HB4132 is another positive step toward protecting Oregon’s coastal waters.
This funding will go towards developing a system for adaptive management so that our marine reserves, which encompass roughly 9 percent of state waters, can be managed according to plans based on up-to-date scientific information. It also allows for more community engagement and education, so that everyday Oregonians can learn more about the wildlife in our waters and the threats they face.
HB4132 is a huge step in the right direction towards better understanding our ocean, and the concepts it embodies – that we need to do more to conserve our waters – must be championed for years to come.
- Ian Giancarlo, Portland/for Environment Oregon