Monthly Newsletter – California Coast and Ocean News – June 2026
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What’s Happening
June 16, 2026 California Ocean Protection Council Meeting Summary & Recording
At the June 16 Ocean Protection Council (OPC) meeting, the Council approved key actions and more than $13.8 million in investments to advance sea level rise adaptation planning and tribal cultural resilience, make meaningful progress to conserve 30% of California’s coastal waters by 2030 (30×30) through tribal stewardship, address plastic and microplastic pollution, support sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, and advance responsible offshore wind development. Read the summary and watch the recording.
Federal Notice: Review of California Coastal Management Program – Public Meetings and Request for Comments
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Office for Coastal Management is conducting a performance review of federally approved coastal management programs, including California’s Coastal Management Program. Public meetings will be held in August, with public comment due August 22, 2026. Read the Federal Register notice for more information to engage and submit comment.
Webinar Recording: California Beach Resiliency Plan Webinar – June 18, 2026
What is the status of California’s beaches? How are they at risk of climate change? What can we do to make them resilient for future generations? Watch the June 18 California Beach Resiliency Plan webinar recording to learn more!
Seven Years of Action: California’s Fight Against Ocean Litter – New Reports are Now Available
California has made significant strides in tackling ocean plastic pollution since 2018. A new report documents seven years of progress on the California Ocean Litter Prevention Strategy. Read the full Accomplishments Report to see what’s been achieved and what work remains. OPC has also published the Statewide Microplastics Strategy: Report to the Legislature, summarizing actions taken to address microplastic pollution since 2022.
Survey: Plastic Pollution Mitigation Fund
Public input is invited to inform the Plastic Pollution Mitigation Fund (PPMF), established by Senate Bill 54 (2022). Share your priorities through this survey or visit the PPMF webpage to view past webinar recordings and learn about future engagements.
Survey: Tracking Impacts of Federally Funded Programs on California’s Coast and Ocean
An ongoing survey is available to understand impacts to federally funded coast and ocean programs in California. Importantly, this survey will be used to identify critical environmental data and information gaps. Complete the survey.
Pride Month
California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) and its departments celebrated this year’s Pride Month with the theme Exist. Resist. Have the Audacity, which recognizes the boldness it takes to show up authentically, challenge inequities, and lead with purpose. We honor the resilience of the LGBTQ2S+ community and reaffirm our commitment to fostering workplaces where everyone is seen, supported, and thrives. Learn more about how CNRA celebrates cultural diversity.
Funding Opportunities
SB 1 Sea Level Rise Adaptation Grant Program
The next submission deadline for Track 1: Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning Projects is Friday, September 11, 2026. Learn more about this funding opportunity on the SB 1 Grant Program webpage.
Dive In
From the Docks to the Data: California’s Commercial Fisheries
California’s commercial fishing industry is both an economic engine and a way of life. Thousands of fishing families, deckhands, processors, and dock workers, as well as the restaurants and businesses that depend on fresh local seafood, have a stake in healthy, productive fisheries. The fishing communities built around ports from Eureka to San Diego reflect generations of connection to the sea.
Commercial fisheries is one of 14 indicators tracked in the 2026 California Coast and Ocean Report, released by OPC in partnership with the California Ocean Science Trust in March. The indicator shows that while most of California’s fisheries are in good condition, two of the state’s most iconic fisheries and the communities that depend on them have faced serious climate-driven impacts in recent years.
Staff Spotlight
Summer is here, and so is a new cohort of undergraduate interns ready to dig into the work of protecting California’s coast and ocean. Now in its sixth year, OPC’s ten-week paid summer internship program gives undergraduate college students hands-on experience in coastal and ocean science, policy, and management — and a front-row seat to how state government gets things done. This year’s cohort also includes an undergraduate fellow joining through the merit-based Woods Institute Environment and Policy Internships (EPIC) program at Stanford University, continuing what is now an eight-year partnership between OPC and Stanford. We’re excited to welcome this year’s interns and can’t wait to see the contributions they’ll make this summer.
Barron Khac Nguyen
Stanford University
EPIC Fellow
Emma Kim
University of California
– Davis
Connor Overton
University of California
– Santa Cruz
Dorian Marquez
University of California
– Los Angeles
Alysse Reyes
California State University
– Monterey
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 coastline through your lens! Submit your photo.
Photo of the Month: Alyssa Gerhart / Surfers at La Jolla Shores, San Diego
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