An Oregon panel tasked with finding ways to address the rising carbon dioxide levels in the ocean meets for the first time Thursday.

The Coordinating Council on Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia meets at Oregon State University's Hatfield Marine Science Center campus in Newport. State lawmakers created the 13-member body last year.

The panel includes scientists, commercial fishing and crabbing representatives, and state fish and wildlife and agriculture officials.

It will review science and research, as well as recommend ways for Oregon to respond to the issue. The state believes it can be an international leader in developing ways to respond to what it termed a global crisis.

State Sen. Arnie Roblan, D-Coos Bay, who co-sponsored the bill to create the working group, said the state knows the problem is getting worse. "It's time to start finding ways to adapt to these new conditions and mitigate them, while we still have time. Our children and businesses depend on it," he said in a statement.

Oregon is already feeling the effects of ocean acidification, according to state officials, university scientists and fishing interests. The ocean water absorbs carbon dioxide from the air, and a combination of factors is changing the chemistry of ocean water, leading to more acidic conditions. More acidic water has particularly hit young oysters and other shellfish.

Jack Barth, an Oregon State oceanography professor and executive director of the school's Marine Studies Initiative, co-chairs the new panel with Caren Braby, the Marine Resources Division program manager at the state fish and wildlife agency.

"Ocean acidification is a global problem that is having a disproportionate impact on productive West Coast ecosystems," said Francis Chan, and Oregon State University professor. "These changing ocean conditions threaten Oregon's productive wild ocean fisheries, rich coastal traditions and renowned healthy ecosystem."

Gov. Kate Brown asked the panel to produce an action plan for the state.

The council is expected to produce its first report to the legislature by September.

The public is welcome to attend the meeting at the Hatfield complex's library, or 415-655-0002 to listen online. The access code is 922602774.

The meeting runs from 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Correction: Sen. Roblan is from Coos Bay. A previous story incorrectly identified him as a lawmaker from Newport.



-- Andrew Theen

atheen@oregonian.com

503-294-4026

@andrewtheen