Santa Maria Sun / Community

Citizen's Alert

Political Watch - June 3, 2010

Right on the heels of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, legislators are taking bigger steps to protect America’s oceans. Earlier this month, more than 40 U.S. Congressional members, including Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara), sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency voicing their concerns about the effects of ocean acidification on marine life and coastal communities. The letter urges the EPA to play a more active role in addressing ocean acidification under the Clean Water Act. According to a press release from Capps’ office, scientists have warned that ocean acidification—a process in which high levels of carbon dioxide increase acidity in the ocean—will have devastating consequences for marine ecosystems, especially for species such as coral reefs, shellfish, and marine plankton, which are considered the backbone of the country’s commercial and recreational fishing industries. The letter was sent in response to the EPA’s request for public comment regarding guidelines for preventing ocean acidification.