Updates from the December 9, 2025 Council Meeting

At the December 9, 2025, Ocean Protection Council (OPC) meeting, the Council unanimously approved its 2026-2030 Strategic Plan: Safeguarding Our Coast and Ocean for All Californians to guide the Council’s investments and priorities through this decade. More than $7 million in investments were approved to directly support communities in preparing for sea level rise, advance responsible offshore wind research and monitoring, and to update the OPC Science Advisory Team to increase collaboration and scientific guidance with California’s scientific community and California Native American tribes. Each of these actions underscore the Council’s ongoing commitment to science, resilient communities, and a healthy ocean.  

Key Action Items  

• 2026–2030 Ocean Protection Council Strategic Plan: Safeguarding Our Coast and Ocean for All Californians: The 2026–2030 Strategic Plan was approved with amendments. The plan provides an ambitious, science-based roadmap for protecting and restoring California’s coast and ocean through the end of this decade. It is anchored by four interconnected goals:  
  
  • Goal 1: Build resilience to climate change  
  • Goal 2: Maximize community benefits and stewardship  
  • Goal 3: Safeguard coastal and marine biodiversity  
  • Goal 4: Enable a sustainable blue economy that protects ocean health 

• SB 1 Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning Grant Program: Up to $3,616,941 was approved for sea level rise adaptation planning projects across the state, and to augment the Senate Bill 1 Technical Assistance Program. 
  • City of Arcata: Up to $397,150 for the “Arcata Sea Level Rise Adaptation Pathways Plan”  
  • City of Pismo Beach: Up to $750,000 for the “Pismo Beach Local Coastal Program Update”  
  • City of Newport Beach: Up to $298,971 for the “Newport Beach Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment”
  • Sonoma County/Permit Sonoma: Up to $1,170,820 for the “Sonoma County North Bay Sea Level Rise Resilience Plan”  
  • Coastal Quest: Up to $1,000,000 to administer the “Senate Bill 1 Technical Assistance Program”  

• Offshore Wind Monitoring and Research: Up to $3,000,000 to California Sea Grant was approved to support responsible offshore wind (OSW) development. This funding will establish the West Coast Science Collaborative for Offshore Wind and provide competitive and discretionary funding to address knowledge gaps and priority science needs. As part of this agenda item staff also shared the Draft Blueprint for Building a West Coast Science Collaborative for Offshore Wind. 

• California Ocean Science Trust for Science Advisor Activities: Up to $1,062,500 to the California Ocean Science Trust was approved to support Science Advisory Team (SAT) Secretariat activities including the launch of an updated SAT and to enhance state decision-making and management of ocean and coastal resources for the benefit of all Californians. 

• Proposition 4 Emergency Regulations: An emergency regulation package was approved to implement Proposition 4 (also known as the Climate Bond), ensuring timely action on voter-approved climate investments. 

Informational Items  

• Save the Waves Coalition: Climate Vulnerability of California’s Natural Surfing Capital: Save the Waves Coalition staff presented findings from an OPC-funded evaluation on how sea level rise and adaptation strategies will affect surf breaks, coastal access, and the recreation economy in Santa Cruz’s World Surfing Reserve. 

• OPC Equity Plan Assessment: Staff presented the Equity Plan Assessment which evaluates progress made since adoption of OPC’s Equity Plan in 2022. The Assessment summarizes key achievements, highlights progress to date, and importantly identifies areas for continued improvement in advancing equity, environmental justice, and collaboration with California Native American tribes across the state.

• OPC Tribal Engagement Strategy Implementation: Staff shared an update on the ongoing implementation of OPC’s Tribal Engagement Strategy and highlighted progress and key milestones, with particular focus on OPC’s efforts to institutionalize meaningful tribal engagement, provide funding to support tribal priorities, and develop policy to advance tribal stewardship of the coast and ocean. 

Chair Updates and Executive Director Report

California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot reported on California’s participation in the recent United Nations Climate Conference (COP30) in Brazil, where Governor Newsom joined state leaders to highlight California’s climate leadership despite the absence of the U.S. federal government. Chair Crowfoot also underscored the state administration’s strong opposition to a new federal proposal to expand offshore oil drilling off California’s coast, calling it unacceptable and pledging to use every tool at California’s disposal to fight it. He expressed deep appreciation for Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis’ years of leadership, engagement, and service, as this marked her final meeting with the Council. 

Executive Director Jenn Eckerle opened by thanking Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis for her leadership and lasting contributions to California’s coast and ocean. She shared updates from the Environmental Justice Advisory Board, which finalized feedback on the Equity Plan Assessment and identified priorities for stronger state engagement with underserved communities and tribes. Eckerle reported that OPC is tracking federal impacts to coastal programs this year and that OPC’s federal impacts reporting survey has documented more than $450 million in delayed or reduced federal funding. This survey remains open to monitor ongoing impacts to California coast and ocean programs. She highlighted recent international efforts, including California’s engagement and recognition by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and collaboration with Chile to share lessons learned to inform marine spatial planning. Eckerle noted that OPC invested over $56 million this past year across key priorities to advance OPC’s 2020-2025 Strategic Plan. She also honored the late Joshua Russo for his influential advocacy and dedication to addressing the kelp crisis and to protecting California’s kelp forests. 

More information is available in the Executive Director’s Report.  

View the full December agenda and associated documents on the meeting webpage. The recording is also available:     

Next Meeting 

The next OPC Quarterly Public Meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 23, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the CNRA Auditorium (715 P Street, Sacramento) with Zoom participation available. 

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