WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) sent a letter to House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) requesting an oversight hearing to investigate the impacts of climate change on the oceans and on the people who live near the sea and depend upon it for their livelihoods. While Congress appropriated $60 billion in disaster aid for states hit by Superstorm Sandy, private property, infrastructure, and ocean related businesses remain at risk from the ongoing threats from climate change.
“Nearly six months on from Sandy, Congress has done little to address the long term implications of rising sea levels and more extreme storms for our coastal communities," said Rep. Markey, the Dean of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation and the top Democrat on the committee that oversees the oceans, coasts, and fisheries of the United States. “The housing market is showing signs of rebounding, but that will make no difference if people’s homes end up literally underwater."
The full letter can be found HERE.
In addition to coastal hazards, Rep. Markey cited evidence that warming waters and ocean acidification brought on by increased absorption of carbon dioxide into seawater can fundamentally alter fisheries and compromise aquaculture operations. Research has shown that ocean change is shifting the ranges of fish species and hampering the development of larval fish and shellfish.
“Scientists and fishermen agree that warming waters in the Gulf of Maine off my home state of Massachusetts have altered the marine ecosystem and are impacting the distribution of cod, lobster, and other species that our fishing communities depend upon for their livelihoods. Corrosive waters resulting from acidification have already threatened the shellfish farming industry," continued Rep. Markey. “We must act immediately to understand the extent of these impacts, and develop solutions that will help hardworking people prepare for what’s next. "
