July 10, 2023
California’s iconic underwater forests are under threat from climate change. From 2014-2019, more than 95% of the bull kelp off our state’s northern coastline disappeared following a record-breaking marine heat wave and an explosion in kelp-eating purple sea urchin populations. Read more…
Categories: Funding Opportunities and Updates, Kelp, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity, Sustainable Fisheries and Marine Ecosystems
May 19, 2023
YOU can help protect California’s kelp forests! We’ve partnered with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) in the early planning stages of developing a statewide, ecosystem-based, adaptive Kelp Restoration and Management Plan (KRMP) for giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) Read more…
Categories: Kelp, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity, Sustainable Fisheries and Marine Ecosystems
October 7, 2022
The October 6 Ocean Protection Council (OPC) meeting was an exciting and moving gathering. State and federal agencies, tribes, non-profit and business partners, and members of the public joined together with joyful tears and cheers in support of landmark decision-making Read more…
Categories: Equity and Environmental Justice, Funding Opportunities and Updates, Kelp, Marine Protected Areas, OPC meetings, Strategic Goal 2: Equity, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity, Tribal Stewardship
October 3, 2022
The Ocean Protection Council will hold a hybrid public meeting via teleconference and in a public forum at 1 p.m. on Thursday, October 6, 2022.
Categories: Equity and Environmental Justice, Funding Opportunities and Updates, Kelp, Marine Protected Areas, OPC meetings, Strategic Goal 2: Equity, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity, Sustainable Fisheries and Marine Ecosystems, Tribal Stewardship
July 22, 2022
By Michael Esgro, Senior Biodiversity Program Manager & Tribal Liaison It was 2013 in Monterey when I learned to scuba dive – one year before a record-breaking marine heatwave arrived off the California coast, bringing with it a “perfect storm” Read more…
Categories: Kelp, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity
June 28, 2022
June 28, 2022 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mike Esgro, (818) 917-6468, Michael.Esgro@resources.ca.gov Urchin Removal on the North Coast Shows Promising Results for Kelp Forest Restoration Fort Bragg, Calif. – An unprecedented partnership on California’s north coast has concluded with the Read more…
Categories: Kelp, Press Releases, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity, Sustainable Fisheries and Marine Ecosystems
June 16, 2022
OPC’s “Ask the Researcher” MPA monitoring webinar series officially launched in May! This summer series highlights key monitoring results from the marine protected area (MPA) monitoring program, connecting audience members directly to California’s leading MPA scientists who describe their research Read more…
Categories: Kelp, Marine Protected Areas, Outreach and Education, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity
June 15, 2022
By Mark Gold, D.Env. Yesterday, the OPC hosted its first in-person meeting in more than two years. Like all state agencies, we are trying to figure out the new normal with hybrid meetings – good online participation, but a public Read more…
Categories: Aquaculture, Kelp, OPC meetings, Sea-Level Rise, Strategic Goal 1: Climate Change, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity, Strategic Goal 4: Sustainable Blue Economy, Sustainable Fisheries and Marine Ecosystems
May 26, 2022
The Ocean Protection Council will hold a hybrid public meeting via teleconference and in a public forum at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 14, 2022.
Categories: Climate Change, Funding Opportunities and Updates, Kelp, OPC meetings, Sea-Level Rise, Strategic Goal 1: Climate Change, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity, Sustainable Fisheries and Marine Ecosystems
April 14, 2022
A unique kelp restoration pilot project on California’s north coast has been featured in The Nature Conservancy’s new Kelp Restoration Guidebook. This guidebook was authored by an expert panel with support from managers, scientists, and restoration practitioners. It highlights kelp Read more…
Categories: Kelp, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity, Sustainable Fisheries and Marine Ecosystems