Monthly Newsletter – California Coast and Ocean News – January 2025
What’s Happening
Our thoughts are with the communities in Southern California affected by wildfires.
Ocean Protection Council Meeting – March 3, 2025 – Teleconference and Public Forum
The next Council Meeting will be Monday, March 3, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. This is a hybrid meeting via Zoom and at the California Natural Resources Agency Headquarters Auditorium in Sacramento. The agenda and meeting materials will be available on February 21. Visit the Council Meeting webpage for updates.
Public Listening Sessions: 2026-2030 OPC Strategic Plan
Share your priorities to inform OPC’s draft 2026-2030 Strategic Plan! Join us for the upcoming in-person listening sessions in Arcata (1/22), Imperial Beach (1/28), San Francisco (2/12), and Long Beach (2/18). You can also complete the online feedback form by Friday, February 21, 2025. Learn more and register for a session.
SB 1 Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning Grant Program
The next submission deadline is Friday, March 21, 2025 for sea level rise adaptation planning projects. Learn more about the SB 1 Grant Program.
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Climate Bond Implementation Briefing with California Natural Resources Agency
California voters passed the Climate Bond (Proposition 4), which will help build wildfire resilience in Los Angeles and across the state, and support safe drinking water, build water security, protect our coast, restore natural places and implement nature-based solutions, protect our biodiversity, and much more.
Please join the California Natural Resources Agency for a briefing on implementing the Climate Bond and hear more about planned engagement to solicit input on how to build programs that will allocate bond funding. There are two dates to choose from; please RSVP to either using these links:
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Job Announcement
OPC Summer Internship Program 2025
OPC is hiring for our Summer Internship Program, a 10-week, full-time paid internship offering hands-on experience in protecting and enhancing California’s coastal and ocean ecosystems for all Californians. Open to undergraduate students, the program provides opportunities to engage in coastal and marine science, and policy and management work, including environmental justice and social equity issues.
Apply by February 7, 2025. Learn more and apply online.
Dive In
Safeguarding California’s Coast and Ocean: 2024 Year in Review
In 2024, OPC celebrated its 20th anniversary and continued its mission to ensure a healthy, resilient, and productive coast and ocean for the benefit of current and future generations. Guided by the Strategic Plan to Protect California’s Coast and Ocean: 2020-2025, OPC made significant strides across its four strategic goals: Climate Change, Equity, Biodiversity, and Sustainable Blue Economy… Continue article.
Data Bite
Plastic Pollution
Plastics are a constant presence in Californians’ daily lives and our environment. Globally, as much as 11 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean annually, which is expected to triple by 2040 without significant intervention. Plastics are recognized worldwide as the most harmful and persistent component of marine litter, making up at least 85% of total marine waste. Over time, plastics in aquatic environments break down into smaller fragments, including microplastics—pieces less than 5 millimeters in size. Microplastics can now be found in every part of our environment and daily lives, up through the food chain and even in the air we breathe, highlighting their pervasive presence and urgent need for action.
To learn more about how California is addressing plastic pollution, explore the Statewide Microplastics Strategy and the California Ocean Litter Prevention Strategy. Visit OPC’s Plastic Pollution webpage to discover how we’re tackling the issue and protecting California’s people and ecosystems.
Project Highlight
Ancestral Waters: An Activity Book on California’s Indigenous Peoples and their Connections to MPAs
OPC is excited to share Ancestral Waters: An Activity Book on California’s Indigenous Peoples and their Connections to Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), a project funded by OPC, administered through the Coastal Quest MPA Outreach and Education Small Grants Program and led by North Coast Native Protectors. This beautifully illustrated coloring and activity book celebrates the deep ties between Native American communities and coast and ocean ecosystems in what is now known as California. Designed to engage audiences of different ages, the book combines cultural knowledge with fun, interactive activities to inspire a deeper appreciation for ocean stewardship and tribal cultural heritage.
This initiative was made possible through OPC’s partnership with Coastal Quest, which received approval of up to $1 million in 2022 to administer the third round of the MPA Small Grants Program. The program emphasizes projects that strengthen public education and environmental justice, enhancing compliance with MPA regulations across California. Projects funded through this program range from creating multilingual outreach materials to supporting environmental justice efforts statewide.
The Ancestral Waters activity book is available to view, download, and order on the MPA Collaborative website. For more information on the Coastal Quest MPA Outreach and Education Small Grants Program and other supported projects, visit Coastal Quest’s MPA Outreach and Education Small Grants Program webpage.
This project reflects OPC’s dedication to partnerships that strengthen cultural and ecological connections, ensuring our coast and ocean ecosystems thrive for all Californians.
Staff Spotlight
Michael Esgro, Senior Biodiversity Program Manager & Tribal Liaison
Mike Esgro joined OPC in March 2018. As Senior Biodiversity Program Manager and Tribal Liaison, he leads efforts to advance OPC’s strategic priorities related to enhancing coastal and marine biodiversity, including implementing California’s 30×30 goal in coastal waters, protecting and restoring threatened ecosystems such as kelp forests, adaptively managing California’s statewide network of marine protected areas (MPAs), and enhancing engagement with California Native American tribes. Mike earned a B.S. in Biology from UCLA and an M.S. in Applied Marine Science from CSU Monterey Bay. His graduate research focused on MPA monitoring and the role of “other effective conservation measures” in ocean conservation. Mike is an avid scuba diver and can usually be found underwater when not at work. Topside, he enjoys kayaking, cycling, and backpacking.
“As the lead for OPC’s biodiversity team, I’m really excited about our work to advance 30×30 in California’s coastal waters. Since Governor Newsom set this ambitious goal over four years ago, our team has been working closely with tribes, fishermen, conservation organizations, and scientists to develop a decision-making framework for 30×30 in coastal waters that builds upon the state’s Pathways to 30×30 strategy, sets a strong and science-based standard for marine protections, and recognizes that people and the ocean can thrive together. As we look to finalize and start implementing this framework in 2025 – including an unprecedented $10 million in OPC funding coming this spring to support science, restoration, and tribally-led stewardship – 30×30 is the wind in our sails not only to strengthen existing protections, but also to promote creative thinking and problem-solving in a changing climate. With half a million acres left to conserve and only five years left to go, I’m excited for the work ahead!”
Photo of the Month
Have a stunning shot of California’s coast or ocean? Submit a photo to be featured as the Photo of the Month! Whether it’s a serene shoreline, vibrant marine life, or a captivating coastal sunset, share the beauty of our state’s coast through your lens! Submit your photo.
This Month’s Photo: Keira Silver / Southern Sea Otter eating purple urchin in Monterey Bay
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