July 1, 2023 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Climate change is putting our Nation’s marine life—and the people who depend on it—at great risk. We are committed to working with partners to better understand, prepare for, and respond to these impacts. Our second round of Climate Science Regional Action Plans will help decision-makers effectively prepare for and respond to rapidly changing ocean conditions.
We are already seeing evidence of how climate change is affecting marine and coastal ecosystems. In 2022, NOAA Fisheries stock assessments reported significant declines in snow crab and Bristol Bay red king crab, leading to fisheries closures in Alaska for those species. These population crashes were likely a result of the 2019 marine heatwave in the North Pacific, which has been attributed to climate change. This event, and others like it, demonstrate just what is at stake. That’s why addressing climate change at the national, regional, and local levels has been—and continues to be—a top priority for NOAA Fisheries.
The newly released plans build upon ongoing efforts first launched in 2015 by NOAA Fisheries to address climate change. They highlight our current and planned efforts with partners to better track, understand, forecast, and use information on changing ocean and climate conditions and address the key objectives of the NOAA Fisheries Climate Science Strategy. The actions are a key part of NOAA’s effort to build a Climate Ready Nation.