Oregon’s Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Action Plan and on-the-water management adaptation to ocean change

In 2006, Oregon was one of the first places in the world to observe direct impacts of ocean acidification, hitting the shellfish growing industry through larval failure to thrive and mortality. Since then, Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia (OAH) have become central issues in Oregon’s climate and ocean management planning, as a key part of the West Coast experience in ocean change phenomenon. Responding to the increasing awareness and severity of OAH events, the Governor and state legislators have made investments in Oregon’s future by committing to a series of priorities, and building the Oregon OAH Coordinating Council. Here, we will update the research and management communities on Oregon’s OAH Council, the Oregon OAH Action Plan, and describe specific examples of ocean change impacts that have led to the building of tangible management tools with particular focus on building a management framework to protect public health from harmful algal bloom biotoxins (domoic acid) in Dungeness crab.