June 13, 2025

Updates from the June 10, 2025 Council Meeting

The meeting marked a major milestone in California’s effort to conserve 30 percent of coastal waters by 2030 (30×30), while advancing key goals across OPC’s Strategic Plan. Council actions supported stronger protections for marine biodiversity, deeper tribal partnership in sea level rise adaptation, enhanced enforcement of marine protected areas (MPAs), and increased community resilience in the face of climate change.

Categories: Climate Change, Coastal Habitats, Equity and Environmental Justice, Funding Opportunities and Updates, Habitats, Leadership and Staff Updates, Marine Habitats, Marine Protected Areas, Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia, OPC Meetings, Report Release, 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, Tribal Engagement, Water Quality

June 12, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: California’s Marine Protected Area Network Recognized as International Gold Standard for Marine Conservation

SACRAMENTO – This week, California’s marine protected area network was officially accepted to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas, a high-profile international certification that recognizes the most successful examples of biodiversity conservation worldwide. California’s system of marine protected areas, or MPAs, is the first nature network in the world to receive this honor.

Categories: 30x30, Coastal Habitats, Habitats, Marine Habitats, Marine Protected Areas, Press Releases, Strategic Goal 1: Climate Change, Strategic Goal 2: Equity, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity

June 4, 2025

OPC’s Draft 2026–2030 Strategic Plan Now Available – Webinar June 18 & Public Comment Period through August 1, 2025

The California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) is pleased to share the Draft 2026–2030 Strategic Plan—a roadmap for protecting California’s coast and ocean in the years ahead. This draft reflects OPC’s continued commitment to resilience, equity, collaboration, and science-based decision-making.  We […]

Categories: Event, Other Public Meetings, Public Comment Opportunity, Strategic Goal 1: Climate Change, Strategic Goal 2: Equity, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity, Strategic Goal 4: Sustainable Blue Economy

May 20, 2025

Monthly Newsletter – California Coast and Ocean News – May

The May 2025 OPC newsletter is available!

Categories: Coastal Habitats, Dungeness Crab Task Force, Equity and Environmental Justice, Event, Funding Opportunities and Updates, Habitats, Leadership and Staff Updates, Marine Habitats, Marine Protected Areas, Monthly Newsletter, Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia, OPC Meetings, Other Public Meetings, Outreach and Education, Public Comment Opportunity, 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, Tribal Engagement, Water Quality

May 20, 2025

California Ocean Day 2025 Celebrates 20 Years of Advocacy, Action, and Ocean Leadership 

On May 6, 2025, hundreds of ocean advocates from across the state gathered in Sacramento to mark the 20th annual California Ocean Day—a milestone celebration of two decades of grassroots organizing, legislative engagement, and shared commitment to protecting California’s ocean, […]

Categories: Event, Outreach and Education, Strategic Goal 1: Climate Change, Strategic Goal 2: Equity, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity, Strategic Goal 4: Sustainable Blue Economy

May 20, 2025

Your Feedback Matters: Take the OPC Engagement + Partnerships Survey – Open through July 20, 2025 

The California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) invites you to participate in a survey to help strengthen coast and ocean protection efforts and ensure that programs and funding opportunities are accessible, inclusive, and community-informed. Your feedback will help shape how OPC […]

Categories: Outreach and Education, Public Comment Opportunity, Strategic Goal 1: Climate Change, Strategic Goal 2: Equity, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity, Strategic Goal 4: Sustainable Blue Economy

May 6, 2025

Ocean Protection Council Meeting – June 10, 2025 – Teleconference and Public Forum

The Ocean Protection Council held a hybrid public meeting via teleconference and in a public forum on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. The agenda, meeting materials, summary, and recording are available.

Categories: 30x30, Climate Change, Event, Funding Opportunities and Updates, Marine Protected Areas, OPC Meetings, 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, Tribal Engagement, Water Quality

April 1, 2025

Applications Open: Marine Protected Area Social Science Working Group – Apply by April 27, 2025

The California Ocean Protection Council (OPC), in partnership with the Ocean Science Trust (OST) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), is convening a group of social science experts to help guide the next phase of Marine Protected […]

Categories: Equity and Environmental Justice, Marine Protected Areas, Strategic Goal 1: Climate Change, Strategic Goal 2: Equity, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity, Tribal Engagement

March 27, 2025

Monthly Newsletter – California Coast and Ocean News – March / April 2025

The March / April 2025 OPC newsletter is available!

Categories: Coastal Habitats, Dungeness Crab Task Force, Equity and Environmental Justice, Event, Funding Opportunities and Updates, Habitats, Leadership and Staff Updates, Marine Habitats, Marine Protected Areas, Monthly Newsletter, Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia, OPC Meetings, Other Public Meetings, Outreach and Education, Public Comment Opportunity, 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, Tribal Engagement, Water Quality

March 11, 2025

Council Adopts Resolution on Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia 

A Resolution on Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia was adopted by the Ocean Protection Council at its March 3, 2025 Council meeting to elevate and communicate the state’s commitment to addressing ocean acidification and hypoxia (OAH). The actions within this Resolution […]

Categories: Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia, Strategic Goal 1: Climate Change, Water Quality