Report Release: The State of Northern California's Ocean

Oakland, CA – Today, California Ocean Science Trust released its “State of the California North Central Coast” report. The report is a summary of research and monitoring conducted between 2010—when the state created a series of protected zones off the coast between Point Arena and Pigeon Point—and 2015. It is too early to attribute changes to the marine protected areas themselves, but the report shows some encouraging initial trends, including an uptick in abalone populations at Stornetta Ranch.

The State of the California North Central Coast Report brings together information about water quality, fish and wildlife, and fishing and recreational uses for the most comprehensive snapshot to date of the region. Produced in collaboration with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Ocean Protection Council, the report reflects the work of more than twenty partner groups, ranging from university scientists to elementary school students and volunteer divers. More than 800 sites were monitored, from the kelp forests of Bodega Bay, to the beaches of Half Moon Bay, and the rocky reefs and sea stacks around the Farallon Islands.

The waters off the North Central Coast are among the world’s most productive due in part to the upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water. Diverse coastal and ocean habitats support valuable local fisheries including Dungeness crab, salmon, rockfish, halibut, abalone and sea urchin, as well as kayaking, bird and whale watching, tidepooling, and other recreational activities.

In 2010, California set aside about 20% of state waters in the region as marine protected areas, with about 11% in no-take marine reserves. The law requires ongoing monitoring to evaluate the effectiveness of these protected areas, and this report provides a benchmark of ocean conditions and commercial and recreational activities at the time they were created, along with a look at any initial changes. This ecological and socioeconomic baseline is designed to help inform management decisions, and will be presented to the Fish and Game Commission in spring 2016.

These marine protected areas serve as living laboratories, helping researchers understand ocean health in the face of sudden events like the Refugio Oil Spill (where monitoring in South Coast marine protected areas is helping to inform the restoration effort), and long term trends like drought and climate change. During the study period, scientists documented a massive abalone die-off and sea star wasting syndrome, with monitoring data helping to inform the state’s response.

“From ocean acidification to drought and El Niño, we are living in a time of unprecedented change in the ocean,” said Ocean Science Trust Interim Executive Director Liz Whiteman. “Having a thorough understanding of current ocean conditions will help us put those changes—and sudden events like sea star wasting and harmful algal blooms—in context, as well as informing management of California’s marine protected areas. Our job at Ocean Science Trust is to bring together the best available science to support informed decision making.”

The full State of the California North Central Coast report and all the data it reflects are available on OceanSpaces, California’s digital home for MPA monitoring data and results. Ocean Science Trust will be sharing results with coastal residents in a series of informal gatherings:

Gualala: Tuesday, December 1 5:30‐7:30pm


Gualala Arts


46501 Old State Hwy.

Gualala, CA 95445

Bodega Bay: Wednesday, December 2 5:30‐7:30pm

Bodega Bay Grange Hall


1370 Bodega Ave.


Bodega Bay, CA 94923

Half Moon Bay: Thursday, December 3 5:30‐7:30pm


Half Moon Bay High School


1 Lewis Foster Dr.


Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

About Ocean Science Trust:

California Ocean Science Trust is a boundary organization. We work across traditional boundaries, bringing together governments, scientists, and citizens to build trust and understanding in ocean and coastal science. We are an independent non-profit organization established by the California Ocean Resources Stewardship Act (CORSA) of 2000 to support managers and policymakers with sound science, and empower participation in the decisions that are shaping the future of our oceans. For more information please visit us at www.oceansciencetrust.org, on Twitter or Facebook, or call (510) 350-1892.

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