Ocean acidification (OA) describes a change in the ocean’s carbonate chemistry. While its chemical processes are largely understood, the biological and socio-economic consequences particularly in relation to fishery are less known. Norway is a major fishing nation worldwide and potentially affected by OA. To improve the understanding of OA’s socioeconomic consequences, we conducted a risk assessment among the Norwegian counties using a modified version of a risk assessment framework introduced in the IPCC’s Special Report on the Management of Risk from Disasters and Extreme Events (SREX), which considers risk to be the sum of ‘hazard’, ‘exposure’, and ‘vulnerability’. Our results show that about 13 out of 19 counties are likely to experience moderate to high risk from OA. We highlight that the success of integrated risk assessments highly dependends on the availability of detailed environmental, economic and societal data. In the case of Norway, modeling data regarding the progress of OA, improved information on potential biological impacts on a larger number of species and statistical data on social variables are required. We conclude that although still in its infancy, integrated risk assessments are important prerequisites for any form of interdisciplinary research on OA and the development of successful response strategies.
Heinrich L. & Krause T., in press. Fishing in acid waters – a vulnerability assessment of the Norwegian fishing industry in the face of increasing ocean acidification. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management. Article (subscription required).
