Changing chemistry in area marine waters is changing the food web and the industries that depend upon it. How those changes occur, and what everyone can do to help reduce those changes, will be explored at a speaker forum and panel discussion on Wednesday, Sept. 28, at the Red Lion Inn conference room in Port Angeles. The free event begins at 6 p.m. and is sponsored by Clallam County Marine Resources Committee and Olympic Climate Action.

Forum speakers will examine the ecological impacts of ocean acidification, the impacts of ocean acidification on local shellfish, water availability on the North Olympic Peninsula and how individuals can be involved to help make a difference.

Ginny Broadhurst, executive director at the Northwest Straits Commission, will facilitate the event and the panel discussion. Broadhurst also will outline actions that individual citizens can take to help reduce the impacts of ocean acidification.

Anna McLaskey, PhD student at University of Washington, will discuss the ecological impacts of ocean acidification. A member of the West Coast Ocean Acidification 2016 Cruise, McLaskey will introduce the cause and chemistry of ocean acidification. Her research focuses on the impacts of ocean acidification on crustacean zooplankton such as krill and copepods.

Bill Dewey, director of public affairs for Taylor Shellfish, will explore the impacts of ocean acidification on oysters and other shellfish. He travels around the world speaking about ocean acidification, how ocean acidification impacts the shellfish industry and how it will impact the ocean food web. Taylor Shellfish started as a family business in 1890 and today they are the largest producer of farmed shellfish in the country.

Ann Soule, resource manager at City of Sequim, will describe future water availability on the North Olympic Peninsula. Based on future weather predictions with drier, warmer summers and wetter winters, Soule concludes that residents should “harness all possible sources of water for our water-dependent region.” She has worked extensively on surface water and stormwater, and water quantity and quality issues in the Dungeness watershed and Clallam County — and will explore potential relationships between freshwater supplies and marine resources.

Following the presentations, a panel will engage the audience in a discussion about ocean acidification and water availability on the North Olympic Peninsula.

This project has been funded wholly or in part by the U.S. EPA.

For more information about the Clallam County Marine Resources Committee, see www.clallamcountymrc.org.