Action #5:
Expand public awareness
Most governments don’t understand that—in addition to reducing carbon emissions—there are things they can be doing now that will make a difference in responding to impacts of OA along their coastlines.
OA Alliance members are raising awareness about OA and its potential impacts to marine life and resources that humans depend on.
It’s important to help governments and non-governments understand what actions or activities they can be taking to support OA mitigation, adaptation and resilience now.
What can you do?
Increase visibility of OA as an issue and facilitate understanding of impacts and actions across government agencies and intergovernmental bodies.
Engage local academia, public, industry, stakeholders, villages and communities.
Educate and facilitate understanding on the drivers and impacts of ocean acidification.
examples from members
The Gullah Geechee National created OA education resources for leaders and community members to support awareness and local actions.
Alaska OA Network has created several resources for educators and fishermen, including a 2-pager about the biological impacts of OA on Alaska’s Fish and Shellfish. The Alaska OA Network also runs an OA community sampling program that includes communities across Alaska and is primarily coordinated by Tribes in the region.
Through the New Zealand Pacific Partnership, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme developed posters in 6 different Pacific Island languages to explain ocean acidification causes and identify practical adaptation actions that communities can support (mangrove and seagrass restoration to locally buffer pH, Locally Managed Marine Areas to reduce reef stressors and alternative livelihood opportunities to reduce reef fishing pressure and enhance food security.)
The Aquarium Conservation Partnership is partnering with the OA Alliance and NOAA to develop content about OA for visitors at U.S. Aquariums.
WIOMSA is partnering with the OA Alliance to help translate the importance of regional OA science recommendations for meeting Continental climate, marine management and sustainable development goals in Africa.