In 2020, California launched an ambitious initiative to conserve 30% of the state’s lands and coastal waters by 2030—known as “30 by 30” or “30×30.” This goal is part of a global movement and will help to protect nature, combat climate change, and expand equitable access to the outdoors in California. As part of this effort, OPC is leading the charge to conserve 30% of California’s coastal waters by 2030, working with partners to protect biodiversity, support tribal and community stewardship, and ensure lasting conservation outcomes.

At its June 2025 OPC meeting, the Council adopted the Roadmap to Achieving 30×30 in California’s Coastal Waters. This document builds on Pathways to 30×30 and outlines how California will identify 30×30 Conservation Areas in coastal waters, including marine protected areas (MPAs), tribal stewardship areas, and other places that provide meaningful biodiversity benefits. To count toward 30×30, areas in coastal waters must be managed in ways that maintain ecosystem integrity and protect biodiversity.

With the adoption of this Roadmap, California has now conserved 21.9% of its coastal waters—more than two-thirds of the way to the 30% target! In addition to the 16.2% of coastal waters conserved by the state MPA network, this includes additional area conserved by the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (5.7%), and University of California Natural Reserves (under 1%). In recognition of concerns raised by members of the public, the Council adopted the Roadmap with three important amendments: 1) strengthen language in the roadmap around equitable access, 2) return to the Council in September to share clear criteria for other coastal and marine designations not yet assessed for alignment with our state’s definition of a 30×30 Conservation Area,  and 3) return to the Council in a reasonable amount of time (6 months to 1 year) to report out on status of collaborative co-stewardship of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary and how the Sanctuary is working to conserve biodiversity.

To support implementation of the Roadmap, OPC is investing $10 million to advance 30×30 in coastal waters. This new funding will support science, stewardship, and restoration projects that enhance biodiversity, identify new conservation opportunities, and strengthen partnerships with California Native American tribes and coastal communities. Proposals will be accepted for three separate tracks: action-oriented science (Track 1), accelerating environmental restoration and stewardship (Track 2), and revitalizing tribally-led stewardship (Track 3). More details on each track can be found in the solicitation. 

To explore these efforts in more detail, visit opc.ca.gov/30×30. You can also track conservation progress across California using CA Nature, an interactive suite of mapping tools that bring together biodiversity, climate, conservation, and access data.

Pike Spector, Biodiversity Program Manager

Pike (he/him) joined the California Natural Resources Agency as the Ocean Protection Council’s Biodiversity Program Manager in May of 2023. Pike leads efforts to support the state’s goals of understanding and protecting the vital aquatic ecosystems that support California’s unique and diverse marine communities. Pike is coming to OPC after working as a marine scientist for Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary in Washington State, where he supported similar projects across the Olympic Peninsula. Prior to this position, Pike was a California Sea Grant Fellow with Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, and then a contractor for the sanctuary’s research team. As a marine scientist, Pike’s research has taken him across the Aleutian Archipelago and across the California coast down to Baja California. He earned a Master of Science from San Diego State University, and a BS from UC Santa Cruz. Outside of work you can find Pike surfing, rock climbing, hiking with his dog, playing banjo, and riding his motorcycle.

“I joined OPC as the Biodiversity Program Manager because I feel a strong sense of responsibility to help protect, restore, and enhance California’s coastal and marine ecosystems. Drawing on my experience as a marine ecologist, nothing excites me more than the development of the Kelp Restoration and Management Plan (KRMP). Led by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the KRMP will support Ecosystem Based Management of California’s giant and bull kelp forests, and the incredible biodiversity they support, through kelp harvest management and a restoration toolkit. California’s kelp forests are icons of this great state, but they’re in need of our help. Not only do they support a rich diversity of ecologically and economically important species, they provide deep culture ties to California residents and visitors, and California Native American tribes. The KRMP will provide the tools necessary to protect and restore these vibrant marine communities in the face of unprecedented climate change; I’m proud to represent OPC’s vision and values in the development of this novel Fisheries Management Plan for the benefit of marine biodiversity, and generations of Californians into the future.”