Ocean Acidification Monitoring

The TBuck Suzuki Foundation engages in innovative research projects that connect land-based academics with on-the-water harvesters, integrating diverse perspectives to discover sustainable solutions for our coastal fisheries.

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Ocean acidification poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems worldwide, impacting not only the health of vital habitats and species but also the coastal communities that rely on them. To better assess these changes in B.C.'s coastal waters, we have enlisted the support of commercial fishers, who act as citizen scientists by collecting valuable data during their fishing expeditions. 

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Participating fishers collect water samples and record relevant oceanographic data such as temperature, location, CO2 and O2 levels. Commercial fish harvesters are uniquely positioned for this task, as there are many regions of the B.C. coastline that are under-sampled and data-poor, but are frequently visited by fishers. Fisher-collected data will be integrated into a comprehensive database, providing researchers with insights into the state of ocean acidification in B.C.'s coastal waters. 

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This project spans the entire coastline of British Columbia and takes place on traditional territories of numerous First Nations, who have stewarded these lands and waters since time immemorial. This project would not be possible without the generous funding provided through the Climate Ready B.C. Seafood program of the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and Tula Foundation. In addition to the harvesters participating, this project is also a collaboration between the TBuck Suzuki Environmental Foundation, United Fishermen & Allied Workers Union, Hakai Institute, and Burke Analytics.