Coastal and Ocean Acidification is a water quality problem that decreases the pH of coastal, ocean, estuary, and freshwater.
Lower pH waters can negatively impact animals and habitats with implications for human communities through the food we eat, the habitats we that protect us, and the cultural resources we care about. The Mid-Atlantic Coastal Acidification Network (MACAN) works at the intersection of science, policy, and communication to help understand and mitigate the negative impacts of acidified waters.
On June 2nd from 2:45 to 4:30 pm MACAN and the Southeast Ocean and Coastal Acidification Network (SOCAN) are hosting a Tribal Listening session in conjunction with Capitol Hill Oceans Week (CHOW). We want to hear from tribes and tribal representatives about Tribal concerns, information needs, and how the coastal acidification networks (CANs) can help Tribal Nations understand and mitigate acidic water conditions that may be negatively impacting water quality. This Listening session is open to all State and Federally recognized Tribes and cultural groups from New York to The Gulf Coast (Travel assistance is available on a first come, first serve basis - see information below).
The goals of the listening session are to:
- Provide a general overview of what acidification is and how to locally mitigate acidic conditions (small-scale relevant to aquaculture, seagrass beds, oyster reefs, living shorelines)
- Understand from tribes what types of educational, technical, and data tools tribes need to understand the potential impacts of acidification on tribal communities
- Understand from tribes how the networks may be able to work with tribes to support tribal community efforts
- Convene a regional Tribal space for tribes to network with each other around the topic of water quality
SOCAN and MACAN specialists will guide the session and share monitoring, mitigation, and restoration strategies they are already using. Apart from comments and discussion in-person or online, we welcome email feedback as well. Email comments will be most helpful if received by June 30th, 2026.
This is a hybrid event. You may select your attendance option on the registration form here. The meeting will not be recorded or transcribed, and all notes taken will be anonymized.
Travel assistance can be requested in the registration form or by emailing Emma Venarde, MACAN Co-Coordinator: emma@maracoos.org
Travel assistance will be provided as reimbursements for transportation (including parking, gasoline or miles driven, and plane/train) lodging, and meals totaling up to $750 per person. Per diem meals are based on GSA rates, which can be found here for Washington DC.
Location: Department of Commerce, Herbert C. Hoover Building 1401 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20230 Room 1412
More information about visiting the DOC federal building can be found here: https://www.commerce.gov/osy/field-offices/hchb-security/visitors