Latest News
Dive into what’s new at OPC and stay informed on California coast and ocean news!
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OPC Releases Recommendations on MPA Petitions
In 2023, the California Fish and Game Commission (CFGC) received several petitions that proposed changes to the state’s successful and globally-renowned Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network. Twenty petitions were received in December 2023 and referred to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) for evaluation. In March of this year, OPC transmitted a public letter to CFGC indicating…
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Seven Years of Action: California’s Fight Against Ocean Litter – The Ocean Litter Strategy Accomplishments Report is Now Available
In May 2026, the California Ocean Litter Prevention Strategy Accomplishments Report: January 2018–August 2025 was published by the Ocean Protection Council (OPC), in partnership with NOAA’s Marine Debris Program (NOAA MDP), California Sea Grant, and USC Sea Grant. California has long recognized marine debris as a threat to communities, human health, ecosystems, and the economy. In 2018,…
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Monthly Newsletter – California Coast and Ocean News – May 2026
The May 2026 OPC newsletter is available!
Categories: 30×30, Aquaculture, Career Opportunities, Climate Change, Coastal Habitats, Equity and Environmental Justice, Event, Funding Opportunities and Updates, Grant Projects, Habitats, Leadership and Staff Updates, Marine Habitats, Marine Protected Areas, Monthly Newsletter, Offshore Wind, OPC Meetings, Other Public Meetings, Outreach and Education, Plastic Pollution, Public Comment Opportunity, 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 -
Slowing Down for Whales: How California Is Making Its Busiest Shipping Lanes Safer
Every spring, gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) travel north along the California coast, mothers and calves making a 12,000-mile round trip between their winter calving grounds in Baja California and their Arctic feeding grounds. These same waters carry an enormous volume of the world’s trade. Container ships, tankers, and bulk carriers travel day and night through…
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California Ocean Day 2026: A Big Day for the Coast
On April 28, 2026, ocean advocates, scientists, tribal partners, and state leaders converged on Sacramento for the 21st annual California Ocean Day, and the day delivered on every front. Governor Gavin Newsom issued an official proclamation designating April 28 as California Ocean Day, celebrating the state’s 1,100-mile coastline, world-class marine protected areas, the $51 billion coastal economy that depends on a healthy…
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Monthly Newsletter – California Coast and Ocean News – April 2026
The April 2026 OPC newsletter is available!
Categories: 30×30, Aquaculture, Career Opportunities, Climate Change, Coastal Habitats, Equity and Environmental Justice, Event, Funding Opportunities and Updates, Grant Projects, Habitats, Leadership and Staff Updates, Marine Habitats, Marine Protected Areas, Monthly Newsletter, Offshore Wind, OPC Meetings, Other Public Meetings, Outreach and Education, Plastic Pollution, Public Comment Opportunity, 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
Our Strategic Priorities
Our work is guided by the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan: Safeguarding Our Coast and Ocean for All Californians, with a focus on four strategic goals. Click on a goal below to learn more about the partnerships and projects shifting that vision into a reality.
Build Resilience
to Climate
Change
Prioritizing cutting-edge science, adaptation planning, and protecting coastal communities and marine ecosystems from the impacts of sea level rise, coastal flooding, ocean acidification, and other climate-driven threats.
Maximize Community Benefits and Stewardship
Centering tribal and community needs, increasing stewardship and coastal access, and ensuring all Californians have a meaningful voice in safeguarding the coast and ocean.
Safeguard Coastal
and Marine
Biodiversity
Strengthening biodiversity, restoring vital habitats, protecting coastal water quality, and addressing emerging threats to coast and ocean health.
Enable a Sustainable Blue Economy That Protects Ocean Health
Supporting thriving fishing communities, climate-resilient fisheries, sustainable aquaculture, and reducing impacts from industrial uses of the ocean.