Ocean Acidification Act Update: Bill Expands Collaboration, Adds Tribal Voices to Federal Research Efforts

This bill, the Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2025, tweaks the existing Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring (FOARAM) Act of 2009. Its main goal is to broaden the conversation and collaboration around ocean acidification – the ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. It specifically aims to bring more diverse groups, including industry members, coastal communities, and notably, Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations, into the federal government's efforts to understand and address the impacts.

Widening the Net on Ocean Health

The biggest changes involve who gets a seat at the table for federal ocean acidification discussions and research planning. Section 3 amends the 2009 law (specifically 33 USC. 3703 and 3704) to mandate an "ongoing mechanism" for engaging a wider range of non-federal players. Think fishing industry folks, local community networks focused on acidification, Indigenous knowledge holders, and scientists outside government labs. They'll provide input on what research and monitoring are actually needed on the ground.

Key additions include:

• Formal Representation: Two representatives from Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, or similar Tribal groups affected by ocean changes will be added to the existing advisory board (amending 33 USC. 3703(c)(3)). Indigenous representatives are also explicitly included in the advisory board's scope (amending 33 USC. 3703(c)(4)(C)).
• Tribal Engagement Policy: The advisory board must now create and maintain a specific policy for coordinating with affected Indian Tribes, developed in consultation with those Tribes (amending 33 USC. 3703(c)(9)).
• Broader Input: Strategic research planning will now explicitly include input from community acidification networks and Indigenous knowledge groups (amending 33 USC. 3704(b)).
• Focus on Vulnerability: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) activities section (amending 33 USC. 3705) is updated to emphasize collaboration with State, local, Tribal, and Native Hawaiian entities on things like community vulnerability assessments. It also adds a directive to prioritize resources for underserved populations.

Essentially, if you're part of a coastal community, a fishing operation, or an Indigenous group seeing changes in local waters, this bill aims to make sure federal research efforts are more directly informed by your experience and needs.

Fixing the Fine Print

Beyond expanding collaboration, the bill tidies up the original 2009 law. Section 2 updates some definitions, formally adding terms like "Indian Tribe" and "Native Hawaiian organization" using existing federal definitions. It also clarifies that ocean acidification involves "an increase of" carbon dioxide.

Section 4 makes several technical corrections throughout the FOARAM Act – fixing typos, updating cross-references (like changing subsection (d)(2) references to (e)(2)), and correcting phrasing to ensure the law reads as intended. Think of it as legislative proofreading to make sure the rules are clear and function correctly.