Moir's Environmental Dialogues, Ocean River Shields of Achilles

Acidifying Oceans Are Killing Oysters and Oyster Farms in Oregon

Vicki Osis, marine education professor of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State U, tells how increasing acidity of the ocean was first documented by scientists researching around the globe. Carbon-loading of the atmosphere is having serious effects on the Ocean with increasing devastations of epic proportions expected by 2020. Already oyster larvae are perishing, wiping out oyster growing businesses in Oregon. And oyster sprats are just one in the cast of thousands of species that make up ocean zoo plankton. When the base of food chains fail entire suites of animals risk sudden extinction due to no food including striped bass, tuna and both baleen and toothed whales. The only way the oceans can be saved is by Americans reducing our carbon footprint. When 4% of the world population is responsible for 20% of the carbon into the atmosphere problem, we must lead the way in actions. Those who like to eat oysters will soon not be the only ones to suffer when carbon kills the ocean.

 

Bio: Vicki Osis is a retired professor of Fisheries and Wildlife from Oregon State University and worked for 31 years as a Marine Education Specialist in the Oregon Sea Grant program.  She developed the K-12 education program for the center and presented many workshops and training programs for K-12 teachers in Marine Science.  Through OSU She developed and managed a Masters of Science program in Education with an emphasis in Marine Science for K-12 teachers.  Vicki Osis participated in the first meeting of the National Marine Educators Association in Rhode Island. She has received national and state awards for her work in Marine Education. She currently is retired and for the past two years has taught an on-line climate change workshop for teachers.  She lives on a small farm on the central Oregon coast with her husband Laimons.