March 6, 2025

Upcoming Launch of SeaSketch California – a mapping tool for California’s MPA Network

We invite you to see SeaSketch California in action at the upcoming Marine Resources Committee (MRC) meeting on Thursday, March 13, 2025. This live demonstration will showcase the platform’s capabilities and how you can engage in adaptive management of California’s MPA Network. 

Categories: Event, Grant Projects, Habitats, Marine Protected Areas, Other Public Meetings, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity

March 4, 2025

Updates from the March 3, 2025 Council Meeting

The March meeting advanced initiatives across OPC’s Strategic Plan goals, including adopting a resolution on ocean acidification and hypoxia, funding for sea level rise adaptation planning, enhancing management of marine protected areas (MPAs), and supporting climate-ready fisheries management.

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

February 14, 2025

Monthly Newsletter – California Coast and Ocean News – February 2025

The February 2025 OPC newsletter is available!

Categories: 30x30, Event, Funding Opportunities and Updates, Leadership and Staff Updates, Marine Protected Areas, Monthly Newsletter, OPC Meetings, Other Public Meetings, Outreach and Education, Plastic Pollution, 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, Tribal Engagement, Water Quality

January 21, 2025

Monthly Newsletter – California Coast and Ocean News – January 2025

The January 2025 OPC newsletter is available!

Categories: 30x30, Event, Funding Opportunities and Updates, Leadership and Staff Updates, Marine Protected Areas, Monthly Newsletter, OPC Meetings, Other Public Meetings, Outreach and Education, Plastic Pollution, 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, Tribal Engagement, Water Quality

January 13, 2025

Ocean Protection Council Meeting – March 3, 2025 – Teleconference and Public Forum

The Ocean Protection Council will hold a hybrid public meeting via teleconference and in a public forum at 1 p.m. on Monday, March 3, 2025. The agenda, meeting materials, summary, and recording are available.

Categories: Climate Change, Event, Marine Protected Areas, Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia, 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, Water Quality

December 10, 2024

Updates from the December 9, 2024 Council Meeting

The December meeting advanced initiatives across three of OPC’s Strategic Plan goals to address climate change, advance equity, and conserve biodiversity. Key actions included funding for sea level rise adaptation planning, advancing 30×30 (protecting 30% of California’s coastal waters by 2030), and investments to support resilience of kelp forests.

Categories: 30x30, Career Opportunities, Equity and Environmental Justice, Funding Opportunities and Updates, Habitats, Kelp, Leadership and Staff Updates, Marine Habitats, Marine Protected Areas, OPC Meetings, Sea-Level Rise, Strategic Goal 1: Climate Change, Strategic Goal 2: Equity, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity, Sustainable Fisheries and Marine Ecosystems, Tribal Engagement

November 13, 2024

Global Urgency at “the People’s COP”: OPC’s Reflections on the United Nations Biodiversity Summit

By Michael Esgro, Senior Biodiversity Program Manager & Tribal Liaison  Last month, California joined leaders from across the world in Cali, Colombia for the United Nations Biodiversity Summit (known as the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention […]

Categories: 30x30, Coastal Habitats, Habitats, Leadership and Staff Updates, Marine Habitats, Marine Protected Areas, Outreach and Education, Strategic Goal 1: Climate Change, Strategic Goal 2: Equity, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity

October 14, 2024

OPC, CDFW, and California Sea Grant Request for Proposals: Monitoring MPA Mid-Depth Rocky Reef Habitats  

OPC, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and California Sea Grant are now seeking applications for projects that will advance monitoring priorities for California’s MPA mid-depth habitats.

Categories: Funding Opportunities and Updates, Habitats, Marine Habitats, Marine Protected Areas, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity

September 11, 2024

Updates from the September 10, 2024 Council Meeting

The September 10, 2024 Ocean Protection Council (OPC) meeting initiated discussion on the Council’s 2026-2030 Strategic Plan process with discussion on Council and public priorities, building from the current 2020-2025 Strategic Plan with a goal of finalizing the plan by December 2025. […]

Categories: Coastal Habitats, Equity and Environmental Justice, Habitats, Leadership and Staff Updates, Marine Habitats, Marine Protected Areas, OPC Meetings, Sea-Level Rise, Strategic Goal 1: Climate Change, Strategic Goal 2: Equity, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity, Sustainable Fisheries and Marine Ecosystems

September 6, 2024

Key Milestone for Designation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary

Today, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released the final Environmental Impact Statement for the designation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary on California’s Central Coast. This is a huge milestone and critical step in the final designation of […]

Categories: Marine Protected Areas, Press Releases, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity