Date of Award

Spring 5-20-2017

Department

Environmental Science

Advisor(s)

Edward van Buren

Abstract

In a country that houses a mere 4 million people, it is no wonder that agriculture has become the main facet of New Zealand’s economy. However, while the sheep and produce have flourished from land protection laws, marine life has struggled in recent years due to an increase in oceanic carbon levels. In an area of the Pacific that is so rich in coral reefs, Great White breeding areas, and a plethora of fish species, any upset of the natural preexisting chemical balance has a tangible impact. New Zealand is dealing with a crisis with huge economic and ecological ramifications. I study the exact adverse effects that ocean acidification has had on the economy of New Zealand. The scientific process of how ocean acidification occurs is a building block of this understanding as well as the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country. The rise of marine pH levels is inextricably linked to the downturn of prosperity in New Zealand’s agricultural sector. My solutions address stricter policies in regards to fishing and emissions regulations to augment the regulation of established New Zealand commercial fishing laws. In this thesis, my goal is to highlight that ocean acidification is a climate problem that affects the entire New Zealand population. By putting these effects into economic terms, I hope to urge change in the “business as usual” way countries conduct themselves, starting with policy makers whose focus is growing their GDP. To illustrate this point effectively, I utilize the disciplines of chemistry, economics, and politics to analyze the trends and consequences of ocean acidification.

Keywords: ocean acidification, New Zealand, fishing, economy, chemistry, politics, climate

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