This project addresses the need for an understanding of how ocean acidification (OA) will affect the biota of the olympic coast of washington state, and specifically, focal species that coastal treaty…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded the University of Washington $150,000 under the Ocean Acidification Program (CFDA 11.017) to advance research on ocean acidification (OA) impacts on marine species along the Olympic Coast of Washington State. The award, effective September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2027, will complete synthesis work and dissemination activities from a 2017-funded regional vulnerability assessment that was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary deliverables include finalizing forecast model projections examining biological risk to focal marine species and organizing a follow-up workshop to engage tribal managers and communities with completed work products.

This project directly supports coastal treaty tribes whose livelihoods, subsistence, food security, and cultural practices depend on harvesting Olympic Coast marine species vulnerable to acidification. The research team will synthesize place-based biological risk forecasts in the context of species of tribal importance and disseminate findings through structured engagement with tribal communities and their managers, fulfilling commitments made during pre-pandemic collaborative workshops. The work leverages the foundation of the earlier regional vulnerability assessment to deliver actionable, community-informed outputs addressing OA adaptation planning for tribal populations.

This project addresses the need for an understanding of how ocean acidification (OA) will affect the biota of the olympic coast of washington state, and specifically, focal species that coastal treaty tribes depend on. Harvest and use of olympic coast marine species are central to the well-being of the tribes for their livelihoods, subsistence and food security, and ceremonial and cultural practices. This work will leverage a previously-funded regional vulnerability assessment (RVA) awarded in 2017 to this research team to advance place-based biological risk via forecast model projections. However, covid-19 cut short the dissemination of final synthesis of outcomes and forecast projections in the context of focal species. This funding will enable the research team to organize a follow-up workshop to finalize work products requested by tribal communities in pre-pandemic workshops and to disseminate work with tribal managers and their communities.