State Board of Agriculture seeks applicants for the Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Council, Dec. 19

The Oregon Coordinating Council on Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia (OAH) is recruiting for a shellfish mariculture representative. The State Board of Agriculture, in consultation with the Governor is responsible for appointing this position to the 13-member council. The council is responsible for providing recommendations and guidance to the State of Oregon on how to respond to direct impacts of ocean acidification. The OAH Council represent industries that are currently and potentially impacted by acidification and hypoxia in Oregon. The state was one of the first places in the world to observe the direct impacts of ocean acidification. Acidification, the increase in carbon levels in water which threatens marine life, continues to challenge oyster aquaculture productivity and has caused some producers to move operations elsewhere. Also, of great concern, hypoxia events. Hypoxia refers to low oxygen in the water. Each member of the OAH Council serves a 4-year term. Those interested in the shellfish mariculture position must complete the OAH Interest Form https://oda.direct/OAHform Please email your completed interest form to Karla Valness, ODA, Special Assistant to the Director at kvalness@oda.state.or.us or mail to: Oregon State Board of Agriculture, Attn: Karla Valness, Oregon Department of Agriculture, 635 Capitol St. NE, Salem, Oregon 97310. Interest forms must be returned by email or post-marked by January 17, 2020. The State Board of Agriculture will review all interest forms at the February meeting. OAH Council Members: Governor or Governor’s designee; OSU Director or Director’s designee; State Fish & Wildlife Director or designee; The Director of Agriculture or designee; Director of the Department of Environmental Quality or designee; Director of Land Conservation and Development or designee; Remaining 7 members are appointed in consultation with the Governor’s office including one member representing the shellfish mariculture (the cultivation of fish or other marine life for food) industry, appointed by the State Board of Agriculture.