Makah Tribe, Alongside National Governments, Launch Ocean Acidification Action Plan at 2025 UN Ocean Conference
Marking a significant milestone in Indigenous-led environmental stewardship, the Makah Tribe of Neah Bay, Washington, today announced the launch of their Ocean Acidification Action Plan during the 2025 UN Ocean Conference. The announcement was made during the side event “Policy Action to Implement SDG 14.3”, hosted by the International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification (OA Alliance) in celebration of the political momentum surrounding action on ocean acidification.
Ms. Mette Westergaard Bech (Ministry of Environment and Gender Equality,Denmark), Mr. Anthony Bitegeko (Natural Resource Policy Lead, Makah Tribe), Salvador Malheiro (Secretary of State of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Portugal), Minister Alicia Barcena (Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Mexico), Ms. Mette Westergaard Bech (Ministry of Environment and Gender Equality, Denmark) and Mr. James Smith (Deputy Director for International Marine, Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, United Kingdom)
Millennia-old traditions at risk
Since time immemorial, the Makah People’s culture, well-being, and economy have been intrinsically linked to the ocean's bounty, with fish, shellfish, and other marine resources playing a role in food security, livelihoods, and cultural practices and traditions.
But today, many of the marine species on which the Makah tribe’s livelihood and traditions depend are at risk from ocean acidification.
Often called “the other CO2 problem”, ocean acidification occurs when the ocean absorbs excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, setting off a chemical reaction that acidifies seawater. This chemical alteration threatens marine organisms that rely on carbonate-based shells and skeletons, creating cascading effects that can knock entire marine ecosystems out of balance.
For Indigenous and sovereign communities like the Makah, whose cultural identity and food sovereignty depend on healthy marine environments, ocean acidification poses not just an environmental challenge but a profound threat to their way of life and guaranteed rights.
The Makah Tribe is located in a region that was the first in the world to observe the impacts of changing ocean chemistry on traditional foods, including shellfish. Their Ocean Acidification Action Plan is a decisive step towards addressing this critical issue with Indigenous perspectives and priorities combined with scientific research.
“Our collective future will be impacted, and we will see real consequences to our way of life, health, and sustainable economic prosperity if we mistreat the waters we all depend on for a comfortable life,” said Timothy J. Greene, Sr. Chairman of the Makah Tribal Council. “Our plan is a first step to create a living document that incorporates our values into policy actions as an example for all of us who are so deeply connected to the ocean.”
Local solutions to global challenges
Global problems like ocean acidification have local impacts that require unique actions. As such, OA Action Plans outline bespoke steps OA Alliance members will take (or are taking) to better understand and respond to the threat of ocean acidification and other climate-ocean impacts within their regions.
During the UNOC event, Makah Tribe Natural Resource Policy lead Mr. Anthony Bitegeko was joined by the Portuguese Secretary of State for Maritime Affairs, Ms. Lídia Bulcão; Dr. Bahia Tahzib-Lie, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations; and Ms. Mette Westergaard Bech, Team Leader on Ocean Acidification, Ministry of Environment and Gender Equality, Denmark to announce the release of OA Action Plans.
They join countries such as Greece, Mexico, Fiji, Palau, Canada, and the U.K. in creating an action plan, key components of which include integrating ocean acidification across mainstream climate, ocean and coastal management plans; establishing cross-sector partnerships to ensure regional ocean acidification science is being applied to local decision making; developing educational initiatives; and advocating for policy changes at local, state, and federal levels.
The Makah Tribe’s plan outlines strategies for:
Understanding and preparing for the full range of ocean acidification impacts
Reducing the global and local drivers of ocean and coastal acidification
Enhancing natural solutions to slow or mitigate ocean acidification
Building resilience of the Makah Tribal community to ocean acidification
Fostering community education and literacy on ocean acidification
Engaging beyond reservation boundaries
“It's clear that governments can no longer afford to overlook acidification in mainstream policy agendas,” said OA Alliance Executive Director Jessie Turner. “That’s why we are so proud and encouraged by members of the National OA Action Planning Leadership Circle as they do the hard work to ensure that action on ocean acidification and climate change is a critical part of domestic and multilateral agendas.”
The Makah Tribe’s story is just one of many, with coastal communities around the world already concerned about the impact of ocean acidification. The launch of their action plan on the global platform that is the UN Ocean Conference underscores the critical need to celebrate the leadership of Indigenous and sovereign communities who are often leading the way when it comes to identifying threats and managing global environmental challenges.
Building on the momentum of UNOC, the OA Alliance invites national, subnational, Tribal, and First Nation government members to join the OA Alliance and create their own OA Action Plans. To learn more, visit oaalliance.org/oaactionplan
You can also find here more information about the Makah Ocean Acidification Action Plan and Denmark’s National Action Plan for Ocean Acidification.
About the Makah Tribe: The Makah Tribe is a sovereign nation located on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. The tribe has maintained its connection to traditional lands and waters since time immemorial, with a culture deeply rooted in marine stewardship and sustainable resource management. Various fish and marine mammals served as staple foods in the early Makah diet and remain central to tribal culture, wellbeing, and economy today. Learn more at makah.com
About the OA Alliance: The International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification (OA Alliance) brings together governments and organizations from across the globe dedicated to taking urgent action to protect coastal communities and livelihoods from the threat of ocean acidification and other climate-ocean impacts. The OA Alliance includes over 120 members across 22 countries representing a diversity of national, state, municipal, and sovereign tribal, indigenous, and First Nation governments, along with many dedicated affiliate partners like NGOs, seafood industry leaders, and local academia. Learn more at oaalliance.org
Media Contacts:
Rachael Perrett
OA Alliance Media Consultant
Email: rachael@meridian.agency