AUGUSTA, Maine - A commission made up of fishermen, aquaculturists, scientists and legislators wants to ask state residents to borrow $3 million to study ocean acidification, a process they say is jeopardizing Maine's shellfish industry.
After several months of study, members of the 16-member panel say further study is needed to identify the best ways to measure and reduce the chemical runoff and carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to the acidification.
Sen. Chris Johnson, a Somerville Democrat who co-chairs the commission, says collecting more data on acidification was among the panel's top two goals.
"One, invest in Maine's capacity to monitor and investigate the effects of ocean acidification and determine the impacts of ocean acidification on commercially important species and the mechanisms behind the impacts," Johnson said. "Two, reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide."
The panel wants to establish monitoring systems to warn fisheries when acid levels spike. And they are recommending an ongoing commission that will continue to work to find ways to reduce the chemical runoff and carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to the acidification.
Members say a $3 million bond will allow scientists to collect data, monitor waterways and perform tests related to the acidification of the ocean. Rep. Wayne Parry, an Arundel Republican and lobster fisherman, says the bond is needed to pinpoint acidification problem areas.
"And I think that it's very important that we put some money forward so that we can monitor these different areas that if we find problem spots throughout the state of Maine that we can look at mitigating the problems in those areas," Parry said.
In response to today's release of the Maine Ocean Acidification Commission report, U.S. Sen. Angus King, 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 $1 billion fishing industry that supports more than 9,000 commercial fishing jobs.