Last week, the California Natural Resources Agency released its Pathways to 30×30 annual progress report. The findings in this report demonstrate tangible, meaningful progress toward our state’s 30×30 goal – just one year after the release of Pathways to 30×30, our state has conserved an additional 631,000 acres of lands and identified concrete strategies to strengthen conservation in coastal waters. As of May 2023, 24.4% of California’s lands and 16.2% of its coastal waters can be considered conserved.
OPC is leading implementation of the 30×30 initiative for coastal waters, and we are proud of the considerable advancements we’re making this year: … read more
YOU can help protect California’s kelp forests! We’ve partnered with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) in the early planning stages of developing a statewide, ecosystem-based, adaptive Kelp Restoration and Management Plan (KRMP) for giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) and bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana). The KRMP development process is anticipated to occur over the course of three to five years. To successfully develop the KRMP and ensure it reflects the best available science and community perspectives, CDFW and OPC will collaborate with the ocean community through the development of a community working group and are seeking nominees for the KRMP Community Working Group. … read more
OPC is seeking applications to develop comprehensive environmental monitoring guidance for offshore wind development in California. The primary goal of this guidance document is to provide a clear and practical resource for regulators, developers, and other stakeholders involved in offshore wind projects in California to ensure that environmental impacts of offshore wind development are properly monitored, evaluated, and mitigated throughout the project lifecycle.
- Informational Webinar: May 24, 2023, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM PT
- Office Hour: May 31, 2023, 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM PT
- Full Proposal due: July 31, 2023, 5:00 PM PT (Note: the proposal deadline has been extended from July 3 to July 31)
See the Request for Proposals for details of this funding opportunity. Applicants must use the proposal template (MS Word .docx)
To be updated whenever OPC announces new grant opportunities, please subscribe to OPC’s email announcements.
Join us and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program for a bi-annual California Ocean Litter Strategy webinar.
The webinar will include updates and developments from federal and California agencies on research and policy related to plastic and marine debris. View the agenda.
Webinar Details
This webinar will be hosted on Zoom.
Tuesday, June 13, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. PT … read more
We are hiring a Career Executive Assignment, Level A, to serve as Deputy Director. The Deputy Director will provide executive-level leadership and will lead OPC administrative functions and operations including management of organizational and program budgets; driving and tracking progress towards strategic plan priorities (climate change, equity, biodiversity, sustainable blue economy); oversight and management of staff; and hiring and workforce planning. The Deputy Director will also work closely with the Executive Director and OPC’s seven-member Council to protect California’s coast and ocean by advancing innovative science-based policy, strategic investments, and catalyzing action through partnerships and collaboration.
… read more
Watch the recording of the most recent 30×30 webinar: Strengthening Biodiversity Protections in California’s National Marine Sanctuaries
California’s federally-managed National Marine Sanctuaries protect our state’s diverse wildlife, habitats, and cultural resources. State and federal conservation goals offer a unique opportunity to assess top threats to biodiversity within Sanctuaries – such as land-based pollution, ship strikes to whales, and kelp loss – and for state and federal managers to work together to address these threats. Join OPC and special guest Maria Brown, Superintendent of the Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, to discuss the efforts to align the state’s 30×30 initiative in coastal waters with the management plan update for Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.
Watch recording
The April 24 Ocean Protection Council (OPC) meeting moved several efforts forward into next steps and introduced new efforts toward protecting California’s coast and ocean in 2023.
Action items on the agenda supporting OPC’s Strategic Plan goals were all passed unanimously by the Council. Funding was approved in amounts up to:
… read more
The Ocean Protection Council held a hybrid public meeting via teleconference and in a public forum at 1 p.m. on Monday, April 24, 2023.
The meeting summary and webcast recording are now available.
… read more
In March, California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon appointed Assemblymember Dawn Addis to the Ocean Protection Council as a nonvoting, ex officio member, and Governor Newsom appointed Alexis Jackson and Megan Rocha to the Council’s voting, public member seats. We look forward to the background and experience all three bring to this leadership role in protecting the State’s coast and ocean. … read more
What is 30×30?
- How much of our coastal waters are already conserved.
- The state’s strategies for achieving the 30×30 target in coastal waters.
- Ways to stay updated and get involved.
Plus, register online for our next virtual workshop!
… read more
California Governor
Gavin Newsom
Secretary for Natural Resources
Wade Crowfoot
Executive Director
Jenn Eckerle
- January 24
- April 24
- August 15
- December 12
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Partners
The OPC works jointly with government agencies responsible for ocean and coastal resource management, and is supported by several partner organizations.
