[SEMCO] A Conference: Ocean Acidification and Southern New England

[Jeffrey M. Brodeur]

New Bedford, MA - On Monday, October 20th from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm the Woods Hole Research Center (http://www.whrc.org/news/pressroom/PR-2014-Oct-20-Ocean-Acidification.html) will host a conference entitled, 'Ocean Acidification and Southern New England’ at the Waypoint Event Center, Fairfield Inn and Suites, New Bedford, Massachusetts. 
Fossil fuel emissions pump more carbon dioxide into our atmosphere every day.  One quarter of these emissions are absorbed by the ocean causing it to acidify, which could have profound and irreversible effects.  Shell­fish growers in the Pacific Northwest have already been impacted through declining oyster harvests linked directly with ocean acidification and fishermen and aquaculturists across the globe are asking, “Who’s next?”

The Ocean Acidification and Southern New England Conference will jump start the search for solutions for our region by bringing together coastal resource users, planners, ocean acidification experts, stakeholders and other concerned citizens. The goal of the conference is to find common ground among these groups concerning the risks to our region from ocean acidification. The conference will begin with a discussion on what is known about ocean acidification. Dialogue will follow that explores regional stakeholders’ concerns regarding aqua­culture, shellfish and fishing industries. It will wrap up with what local opportunities New England has to offset the effects of ocean acidification through policy and legislative options. We hope to agree on a route forward to protect and prepare the region for possible impacts, and increase understanding of the need to reduce fossil fuel emissions and adopt renewable energy systems.

There will be presentations from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, NOAA, UMass Dartmouth School of Marine Sciences & Technology, Northeastern University, the Island Institute, the Ocean Conservancy, as well as speakers from the Mass. Lobstermen's Assoc., Saint Josephs College, the NW Atlantic Marine Alliance, the Center of Sustainable Fisheries, the East Coast Shellfish Growers Assoc., Roger Williams Univ., the New England Fisheries Council and more. 

 The conference will be held on Monday, October 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Waypoint Event Center, Fairfield Inn & Suites, 185 MacArthur Drive, New Bedford, Massachusetts 02740.   

 Seating is limited and registration is required by October 10.  Please RSVP to Wendy Kingerlee at wkingerlee at whrc.org, or 508-444-1526.

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NEW: Oct. 20, 2014 - Ocean Acidification Conference in New Bedford, MA
See: http://tinyurl.com/nqpvbbr

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Mr. Thomas A. Stone, Scientist Emeritus
The Woods Hole Research Center
149 Woods Hole Road, Falmouth, MA 02540-1644
1-508-444-1524 (direct), 1-508-540-9700 (fax) 
office email:   tstone at whrc.org
personal email: tastone99 at gmail.com
www.whrc.org   twitter: @tastone99
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