A panel including a Florida Keys commercial fisherman considers the threat of increasing ocean acidification during a Friday forum in Miami.
Ernie Piton, president of the Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association, joins a four-member panel representating industries that rely on a healthy Atlantic Ocean.
The open event, at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science auditorium, also features University of Miami researchers Chris Langdon and Ryan Woosley on a scientific panel with Kim Yates, oceanographer with the U.S. Geological Survey.
State Rep. Holly Raschein (R-Key Largo) serves as a moderator for the two panels, starting at 9 a.m.
“Animals that build shells, such as oysters, corals, clams and mussels, are at risk from increasing ocean acidity,” said UM spokeswoman Diana Udel. “Scientists are increasingly concerned that fish will be impacted as well.”
Rising levels of carbon pollution are absorbed from the atmosphere, turning seawater more acidic. The pH level is defined as a measure of acidity or alkalinity of water.
In the Florida Keys, a buoy moored at the Cheeca Rocks patch reef off Islamorada since 2011 “constantly [is] collecting data on carbon dioxide in the air and water, seawater pH, and temperature, providing NOAA scientists the opportunity to observe changes in the environment,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory.
“As seawater’s pH decreases, it becomes more difficult for corals to efficiently produce limestone,” an agency summary says. “The trend of ocean acidification may result in coral reefs eroding faster than they are being built.”
Joing Piton on the panel of ocean-dependent businesses are Miami charter captain Ray Rosher, Miami-Dade tourism executive Bill Talbert and Key Biscayne dive operator Eric Cartaya.
“In Florida, coral-reef tourism alone supports more than 70,000 jobs, generates more than $6 billion in local sales and $2.8 billion in local income,” says a UM report. “Saltwater recreational fishing supports more than 109,000 jobs.”
The Rosenstiel School is located off the Rickenbacker Causeway on Virginia Key.
Kevin Wadlow, Florida Keys News, 15 June 2016. Article.
