This project seeks to assess the economic and community impacts of ocean and coastal acidification (OCA) within coastal louisiana

Louisiana State University received a $148,187 Project Grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ocean Acidification Program (CFDA 11.017) awarded on September 1, 2025, with completion scheduled for August 31, 2027. The project will conduct a comprehensive vulnerability assessment of ocean and coastal acidification (OCA) impacts within coastal Louisiana, one of the nation's most economically and ecologically significant coastal regions. The assessment will identify strategies for building resilience among economies and communities dependent on coastal resources, with particular focus on Louisiana's multi-billion-dollar seafood industry and critical ecosystem services including storm surge protection and carbon sequestration.

The project will deliver a foundational vulnerability assessment developed through stakeholder engagement workshops with key constituencies possessing expertise and experience in coastal operations. The resulting reports and findings will directly inform adaptation planning and decision-making at local, state, and national levels, supporting resilience-building efforts for traditional coastal livelihoods and communities across the region. The work aligns with NOAA's Ocean Acidification Program priorities of conducting research to enhance understanding of ocean acidification impacts and how human communities can adapt to changing ocean conditions.

As one of the most ecologically and economically significant coastal regions in the U.S., louisiana supports a multi-billion-dollar seafood industry, provides critical ecosystem services such as storm surge protection and carbon sequestration, and sustains traditional livelihoods that have shaped the regions cultural and economic identity for generations. By engaging key stakeholders and partners the project aims to provide a foundational vulnerability assessment that identifies strategies for resilience-building for economies and communities who depend on coastal resources. The vulnerability assessment will be developed through workshops with numerous constituencies that possess expertise and experience working on the coast. The outcomes provided via project reports will directly inform adaptation planning and decision-making at local, state, and national levels.