Sustaining Our Seas Climate change is affecting every part of the Earth, especially our oceans and the sea life within them. As the oceans warm, the acidity changes, and sea levels rise, scientists are observing changes in our fish stocks, habitats, and fishing patterns. Case Study Read time 4 minutes February 20, 2023 Close Modal About the project Climate change is affecting every part of the Earth, especially our oceans. As the oceans warm, acidity starts to change, and sea levels rise, we can observe changes in our fish stocks, habitats, and fishing patterns. The goal of this project was to convene the many stakeholders affected by these changes, including not only those researching it, but those within the industry and the public as well.The Museum of Science brought together a working group of 8 advisors from a wide variety of sectors (fishing industry, businesses, government, academia, etc.) who all have an interest in connecting with the general public on the topic of Seafood and Sustainability. The Museum acted as a convener, connecting the stakeholders to the public and the public to the stakeholders. This was done through a series of meetings, creation of two deliberative forums, and a final symposium. The meetings were with the advisors, who helped develop, discuss, and plan topics, background, and other relevant information included in the forums. Two forums, or deliberative conversations, were developed about seafood, sustainability, wind energy, and fishing with the help of our advisors. The project team hosted each forum twice with public participants at the Museum of Science, Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, and the University of New Hampshire. Public participants created a mutually beneficial exchange of information to inform action aimed at addressing the seafood and climate change crises. We then hosted a symposium with over 50 stakeholders to distribute the data collected by the public participants and share out the materials created from this project. Image Educational Resources Image Public Perception of Seafood How do you go about choosing the seafood you buy? Do you base your preferences on sustainable fishing, cost, carbon footprint, where it’s caught or raised, or a combination of all these factors? We’ve gathered a group of scientists, fishermen, government officials, and other stakeholders who are interested in balancing seafood consumption with an ever-changing marine ecosystem—and they want to hear from you.Discuss the many different factors that might go into your seafood purchasing decisions. Then, you will receive a series of “mystery” seafood items to purchase (or not), based on those factors. Download Your Free Learning Materials Image Managing Resources The Gulf of Maine is the fastest warming body of water in the world due to climate change. This region, spanning from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia, is a strong indicator of how climate change is affecting our ocean resources.In this interactive group discussion, you will talk with other participants about how we can both adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change while looking at ways we can have a successful seafood industry and coastal economy. Our first scenario will explore how we can better manage the expanding range of black sea bass in the Gulf of Maine. The second scenario will dive into how we can mitigate climate change effects using offshore wind turbines. Download Your Free Learning Materials Close Modal Results and Data Discover insights from reports shaped by public voices at forum events: Data was collected by publics who participated in the forum events. Public Perception of SeafoodAugust 24, 2022 - Museum of Science, Boston, MA January 29, 2023 - Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster, MA Managing ResourcesOctober 25, 2022 - Museum of Science, Boston, MA February 20, 2023 - University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH Download Reports Image Our TeamThank you to our advisors: Jared Auerbach, Red's BestGlen Gawarkiewicz, Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionJonathan Grabowski, Northeastern Marine Science CenterVictoria Luu, NOAA Marine Fisheries - NEFSC Fishery Monitoring & Research DivisionJason Tucker, Hooked Fish ShopMeredith White, Mook Sea Farm, AquacultureNicola Williams, Northwest Atlantic Marine AllianceValerie Young, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean SciencesMuseum of Science Staff: Jonathan Fanning Susan Heilman, PhD David Sittenfeld, PhD Sara Winslow For any questions, please email cpsl@mos.org This resource was prepared thanks to support from Bloomberg Philanthropies. Image Public Engagement with Science Explore more fascinating research from the Museum of Science! There are numerous projects to discover. Dive in and learn something new today! Learn more Topics Climate Change Environmental Science Earth Science Oceans Share
