Ocean acidification (OA) in the coastal waters of New York is the result of greenhouse gas emissions combined with polluted runoff from land. This causes the formation of carbonic acid which makes the ocean increasingly acidic. This acidity can adversely affect many of the marine animals that call this environment home. Unfortunately, the current rate of change of ocean acidification is faster than any time on record and New York's ocean and coastal water environment has the potential to be particularly vulnerable.
The Ocean Acidification Task Force (OATF) has been tasked with assessing impacts of Ocean Acidification to New York's coastal waters, identifying contributing factors and recommending actions to address negative impacts.
Statutory language: Section 2 of chapter 464 of the laws of 2016 established the Ocean Acidification Task Force (OATF)
Purpose
OATF was established to ensure that the best available science is used to assess and respond to this emerging threat to New York's marine waters and fisheries. The task force has produced a final report (PDF) to identify how to:
- Mitigate: What can New York State do to reduce acidification in the water surrounding its coast, the Mid-Atlantic Bight, and the global oceans?
- Adapt: How can we minimize negative impacts of the inevitable changes on New Yorkers?
Additionally, the New York Ocean Action Plan (PDF) has dedicated steps to combat Ocean Acidification (Action 15) and increase the resilience of ocean resources to impacts associated with climate change.
View the OATF Responsiveness Summary (PDF).
Task Force Membership
The OATF is comprised of eleven appointed members, including experts in climatology, hydrology, economics, marine fisheries, aquaculture, oceanography, and ecology. As per the legislation that created the task force, these members have been appointed by the State Senate, the State Assembly, New York City, and Nassau and Suffolk counties, as well as representatives of the New York State Department of State and the Office of General Services.
As the lead agency, DEC's appointee, James Tierney, will be chair. The OATF's efforts will be supported by DEC's Division of Marine Resources in East Setauket and faculty of the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University. See Stony Brook University's website for additional information on ocean acidification.
| Name | Organization | Appointing Authority |
|---|---|---|
| James Tierney, Chair Deputy Commissioner, Office of Water Resources | NYS Department of Environmental Conservation | DEC Commissioner |
| John McLaughlin Managing Director, Office of Ecosystem Services | NYS Department of Environmental Protection | NYC Mayor |
| Ian MacCallum Senior Attorney, Legal Services | NYS Office of General Services | OGS Commissioner |
| Jeff Herter Division of Community Resilience and Regional Programs | NYS Department of State | Secretary of State |
| Marci Bortman Director of Conservation Programs | The Nature Conservancy | Governor |
| VACANT | Governor | |
| Chris Pickerell Marine Program Director | Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County | President of the Senate |
| Steve Malinowski Owner/Operator | Fishers Island Oyster Farm | President of the Senate |
| Malcom J. Bowman, Ph.D. Distinguished Professor | School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Stony Brook University | Speaker of the Assembly |
| Carl Safina, Ph.D. Endowed Research Chair for Nature and Humanity | School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Stony Brook University | Speaker of the Assembly |
| Jeremy Thorton Former US Navy Seal, Strategic Market Director | Janssen Pharmaceuticals | Minority Leader of the Senate |
| Joyce Novack, Ph.D. Director | Peconic Estuary Program | Minority Leader of the Assembly |
| VACANT | Nassau County Executive | |
| Jason Masters Renewable Energy and Oceanographic Consultant | Gaiergy Corporation | Suffolk County Executive |
Vacancies, Expired Terms, Terms Expiring Within One Year
Governor and Nassau County Appointees
Process for Filling Vacancies
Any vacancies on the task force shall be filled in the manner provided for in the initial appointment.
The at large members should include individuals with expertise in one or more of the following areas: climatology; hydrology; economics; marine fisheries including commercial and/or recreational fishing; environmental; aquaculture; oceanography or coastal ocean science; ocean acidification; and ecology or environmental biology.
Member Compensation
Task force members shall receive no compensation for their services. While they can be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, no expenses have been incurred.
