June 10, 2022

California and Canada Partner to Advance Bold Action on Climate and Biodiversity

Building on California’s global leadership on biodiversity and climate, and following the partnership established with New Zealand last month, Governor Gavin Newsom and Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau announced a new partnership on June 9 to advance bold action […]

Categories: 30x30, Climate Change, Marine Pollution, Plastic Pollution, Strategic Goal 1: Climate Change, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity

June 7, 2022

California Ocean Litter Strategy Workshop: June 21 and June 22

Registration is open for the California Ocean Litter Strategy Implementation Workshop! This virtual workshop will take place Tuesday, June 21st from 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM and Wednesday, June 22nd from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Pacific Time). Join federal […]

Categories: Marine Pollution, Plastic Pollution, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity, Water Quality

May 26, 2022

California Proposes New Requirement for Tiremakers to Seek Chemical Alternatives to Protect Water Quality, Coho Salmon

California has the largest network of freeways in the country and its cities are known for heavy traffic. Vehicle and traffic emissions not only impact air quality – but can degrade water quality. When it rains, stormwater carries particles from […]

Categories: Marine Pollution, Plastic Pollution, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity, Water Quality

March 7, 2022

United Nations Adopts Historic Resolution to End Plastic Pollution

Today, after a week of debate, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) in Nairobi unanimously approved a resolution to end plastic pollution, setting the stage to create a legally binding treaty by 2024 to prevent and reduce global plastic pollution. […]

Categories: Marine Pollution, Plastic Pollution, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity

February 24, 2022

California Takes Decisive Action to Reduce Microplastics Pollution: State Adopts a First-in-Nation Approach to Protecting Ocean and Human Health 

SACRAMENTO, CA – In response to increasing concern about pervasive and persistent pollution caused by microplastics, the California Ocean Protection Council yesterday approved the first comprehensive microplastics strategy in the nation. This leading-edge Statewide Microplastics Strategy identifies early actions and research […]

Categories: Marine Pollution, Plastic Pollution, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity

February 17, 2022

Landmark Statewide Microplastics Strategy Recommends Early Actions and Research Priorities to Reduce Microplastic Pollution

In response to increasing concern about pervasive and persistent pollution caused by microplastics, California has prepared a first-of-its-kind Statewide Microplastics Strategy that recommends early actions and research priorities to reduce microplastic pollution in California’s marine environment. The Strategy follows the […]

Categories: Marine Pollution, Plastic Pollution, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity

February 17, 2022

Ocean Protection Council Meeting — February 23, 2022 — Teleconference

The Ocean Protection Council held a public meeting via teleconference at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, February 23, 2022.  

Categories: Funding Opportunities and Updates, Marine Pollution, Marine Protected Areas, Ocean Acidification, OPC Meetings, Plastic Pollution, Sea-Level Rise, Strategic Goal 1: Climate Change, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity, Sustainable Fisheries and Marine Ecosystems, Water Quality

December 31, 2021

OPC’s Year in Review: Meeting Challenges, Advancing Equity, Protecting Our Ocean

“As we look to 2022, our goal at the agency is to… continue California’s global leadership, combating climate change, transitioning our economy, and protecting our people and nature in the meantime. I believe strongly that people are resilient and that […]

Categories: 30x30, Aquaculture, Climate Change, Equity and Environmental Justice, Grant Projects, Marine Pollution, Marine Protected Areas, Plastic Pollution, Sea-Level Rise, Strategic Goal 1: Climate Change, Strategic Goal 2: Equity, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity, Strategic Goal 4: Sustainable Blue Economy, Sustainable Fisheries and Marine Ecosystems, Water Quality

December 21, 2021

Draft Statewide Microplastics Strategy is Available for Public Comment

OPC is pleased to release the draft Statewide Microplastics Strategy, which outlines a statewide research strategy and recommended early actions to reduce microplastic pollution in California’s marine environment, consistent with Senate Bill 1263 (Portantino, 2018). We welcome feedback on this draft […]

Categories: Marine Pollution, Plastic Pollution

November 23, 2021

New Report: Understanding the Flow of Microplastics from our Cities to the Ocean

Despite increased awareness, plastic pollution continues to infiltrate our oceans and beaches, littering the seafloor, ocean surface, beaches and shorelines. It also takes a toll on our economy: California communities spend more than $428 million annually to clean up and […]

Categories: Marine Pollution, Plastic Pollution, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity