Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2025

This legislation focuses on ocean and coastal acidification and how it affects coastal communities. It would require NOAA to work with state and local governments and Indian Tribes on community vulnerability assessments, research planning, and similar efforts, so communities can better plan and adapt. It builds on work already happening, supports information sharing, and helps local programs improve and serve as models for others.

• Who is affected: coastal communities; affected industry members and coastal stakeholders; Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations; non‑Federal resource managers and scientists; groups like community acidification networks, fishery councils, and Indigenous knowledge groups.
• What changes: NOAA must set up ongoing ways (a liaison, regular meetings, or an online platform) to gather community input that guides research, data, and monitoring for on‑the‑ground decisions and adaptation. The advisory board would add Tribal and Native Hawaiian representatives, include Indigenous voices in appointments, and create a Tribal engagement policy within one year, in consultation with Tribes. NOAA would collaborate with states, local governments, and Tribes on vulnerability assessments and research planning; it may also work with Native Hawaiian and other Tribal organizations, and assessments must note these collaboration efforts. NOAA must prioritize underserved communities when using its resources.

It also makes minor wording fixes to the existing law.