April 10, 2019 — The Pacific Ocean off Oregon has been ground zero for the impacts of climate change, beginning with a 2007 crisis in the state’s oyster industry.
Since then, acidification and hypoxia events off Oregon’s coast have been increasing, scientists say.
Now, state lawmakers are weighing a bill aimed at understanding and countering those impacts, which have the potential to decimate the state’s crab, shrimp, and shellfish industries.
Senate Bill 260 would allocate $1.9 million from the state general fund toward various projects to monitor and respond to a warming Pacific.