WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the release of the Maine Ocean Acidification Commission Report today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Climate Action Task Force, renewed his call for action to address the effects of climate change and ocean acidification on Maine’s fishing industry:

“This report underscores what Maine’s lobstermen and fishermen have been saying for years: that the ocean waters are warming, that they’re growing more acidic and that Maine’s coastal environment, our fisheries, and our economy are in danger as a result,” said Senator King. “It’s a serious problem that requires a serious response. I commend the Commission for its excellent work. In the Senate, I will continue to support investments to better determine the impact that increased carbon emissions have on Maine, and I will continue to advocate for policies that will help develop a long-term strategy to combat what very clearly are significant changes in our ecosystems.”

The report notes that rising levels of carbon dioxide are causing changes in ocean chemistry. The combination of carbon dioxide and seawater results in the formation of carbonic acid, which can dissolve the shells of shellfish. Over the past two centuries, ocean acidity levels have increased 30 percent. The cold waters of the Gulf of Maine are even more susceptible to ocean acidification than other regions in the United States because carbon dioxide dissolves more readily in cold water, speeding up the rate of acidification. The full report can be read HERE.

Last year, as a member of the Senate Climate Action Task Force, Senator King attended the “Our Ocean” Conference hosted by Secretary of State John Kerry at the State Department, which focused on sustainable fishing, marine pollution and ocean acidification. The conference brought together more than 350 participants from across 80 nations – including government officials, scientists and leading international institutions – to review the state of the science and determine concrete actions that can be taken at all levels to help protect ocean ecosystems.

He has also called the dramatic increase of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas in the atmosphere and the role it plays in raising global temperatures a crisis situation and called upon the United States to lead the international community in responding. In a speech on the Senate floor in 2013, Senator King sounded the warning on the danger of inaction surrounding climate change and laid out the long-term impact on Maine’s fishing industry.

In letters, Senator King has also urged robust federal investment to better understand the impact of ocean acidification in Maine.

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