The California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) was created in 2004 to help protect, conserve, and maintain healthy coastal and ocean ecosystems and the economies they support. The OPC works with diverse interests and provides the leadership needed to meet the accelerating and complex challenges of our time as set forth in the California Ocean Protection Act
On July 25, 2018, the Ocean Protection Council approved funding to support a California track of Fish 2.0 through online trainings, webinars, regional and global workshops and other activities to enhance sustainability of fisheries and fishing communities through innovation. The California track of Fish 2.0 is now launched and the California workshop is set for November 28-29 in San Francisco. Any California seafood businesses involved in any aspect of seafood supply chains, climate resilience technologies or seafood production, harvesting and trade, are eligible to apply to participate in this free workshop. The online competition of the California track of Fish 2.0 will begin directly after the November 28-29 workshop. Additional details and the workshop flyer are available on the Fish 2.0 California Track homepage, as well as on OPC’s Fish 2.0 California track project page.
California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) Director, Brice Semmens, presented on CalCOFI’s innovative data products and tools for ocean resources management at a public presentation in the California State Library on Tuesday, September 18th, 2018. A video recording is now available. Ocean Protection Council partnered with Scripps Institution of Oceanography and UC San Diego to host this presentation. For more information, please visit CalCOFI’s homepage.
The Ocean Protection Council (OPC) is thrilled to present its new logo. After almost fifteen years, we are releasing a new brand identity, including a new logo, colors and font. You’ll see the new look anytime we’re out in public, like our website, reports and other documents, and Twitter. We believe the new look better matches what OPC has become since 2004: a leader in coastal and ocean protection in California, nationally, and internationally.
For more information about OPC’s work, including agendas for quarterly Council meetings where the public is encouraged to participate, grant funding opportunities, science and policy papers, OPC job postings and more, please visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
About the new logo
Developed by talented Los Angeles freelance graphic designer and animator Taylor Beldy, the artwork is an abstract representation of the California coast and ocean and evokes imagery of waves, underwater surface reflections, kelp forest, and the connection between land and sea.
Taylor Beldy is a designer, animator, and artist from Los Angeles, California. Working with the California Ocean Protection Council to reinvent their visual identity has cemented his core belief that design works best when informed by varying contexts, opinions, and areas of expertise. Moving forward, Mr. Beldy intends to collaborate with environmental conservation groups, scientists, stakeholders, and lawmakers across California to develop products and tools that address the spectrum of environmental issues facing our planet. He earned a B.F.A. from the Rhode Island School of Design in Film/Animation/Video and has worked with the New York Times, National Geographic, and screened independent films at festivals around the world. On the weekends, Mr. Beldy can be found exploring the California coastline, making prints, or working on a new film. For more information and samples of his work, visit his website at www.tay-bel.com. To collaborate, email him at taylorcbeldy@gmail.com.
The California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) is hiring a Senior Environmental Scientist to help lead its Marine Protected Area (MPA) Program. The OPC is a state entity that works to: (1) coordinate activities among ocean-related state agencies to improve the effectiveness of state efforts to protect ocean resources; 2) establish policies to coordinate the collection and sharing of scientific data related to coastal and ocean resources between agencies; 3) identify and recommend changes in state and federal law and policy to the Governor and the Legislature; and 4) allocate and execute delegated bond funds and other designated funds in a manner that is transparent and in line with OPC’s priorities.
The Senior Environmental Scientist will be responsible for leading aspects of OPC’s MPA management program including outreach and education, research and monitoring, compliance and enforcement, and policy and permitting, in collaboration with OPC’s other MPA program staff and external partners. The Senior Environmental Scientist will also direct funding efforts focused on marine protected areas in coordination with OPC staff, state agencies, local governments, scientists, non-profits, and other constituents. The position involves grant and contract management including developing grant/contract content, tracking deliverables, processing invoices, and coordinating with grantees. The Senior Environmental Scientist will also provide additional organizational support and capacity, as needed.
Applicants should have a strong working knowledge of coastal and ocean issues and stakeholders in California, experience working on projects and/or research related to MPAs in California or elsewhere, and excellent written and verbal communication skills. The ability to work in a fast-paced environment and prioritize tasks is a must. Experience with public relations, such leading communications campaigns and/or drafting content for memos, newsletters, press releases, websites, or social media posts is a plus. The position is located in Sacramento, California.
The application deadline is September 12, 2018. For more details and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=124697
The California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) is hiring two Environmental Scientists to support its programmatic priorities. The OPC is a state entity that works to: (1) coordinate activities among ocean-related state agencies to improve the effectiveness of state efforts to protect ocean resources; 2) establish policies to coordinate the collection and sharing of scientific data related to coastal and ocean resources between agencies; 3) identify and recommend changes in state and federal law and policy to the Governor and the Legislature; and 4) allocate and execute delegated bond funds and other designated funds in a manner that is transparent and in line with OPC’s priorities.
The Environmental Scientists will support policy and funding efforts for OPC’s priority programs focused on marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, climate change, marine pollution, and sustainable ocean economy, in coordination with OPC staff, state agencies, local governments, scientists, non-profits, and other constituents. The Environmental Scientists will also be responsible for grant and contract management including developing grant/contract content, tracking deliverables, processing invoices, and coordinating with grantees. The Environmental Scientists may also provide additional organizational support and capacity, as needed.
Applicants should have a strong working knowledge of coastal and ocean issues and stakeholders in California, experience working on projects and/or research that address OPC’s priorities listed above, and excellent written and verbal communication skills. The ability to work in a fast-paced environment and prioritize tasks is a must. Experience with public relations, such leading communications campaigns and/or drafting content for memos, newsletters, press releases, websites, or social media posts is a plus. The position is located in Sacramento, California.
The application deadline is September 5, 2018. For more details and to apply, please visit:
https://jobs.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=124001 and
https://jobs.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=123746.
Applicants interested in the Environmental Scientist positions should to apply to both links listed above.
The Dungeness Crab Task Force Executive Committee will hold a public conference call on Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at 12:30 pm to provide updates on topics directly impacting the Dungeness crab fishery, begin brainstorming on high priority topics as outlined in the DCTF’s 2018-19 work plan, and identify priority topics for the next DCTF meeting.
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The public comment period is open from Monday, August 13 through Friday, September 14, 2018. Click here to download the draft Award Guidelines. Two informational webinars will be held for OPC staff to share an overview of the Award Guidelines and provide an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions and provide input. To register for a webinar and to learn more information about the Once-Through Cooling Interim Mitigation Program, click here.
On July 24th, Secretary Laird wrote The Honorable Paul Ryan and The Honorable Nancy Pelosi to express concern regarding two pieces of pending federal legislation that would make broad changes to long established federal laws protecting the marine environment from the effects of oil and gas exploration and development. Read the letter here.
Please download the draft here.
The public comment period is open from Wednesday, August 1 through Friday, August 31, 2018. All comments should be submitted by email to: COPCpublic@resources.ca.gov. Questions can be directed to Ocean Protection Council Climate Change Policy Advisor, Jenn Phillips at: Jennifer.Phillips@resources.ca.gov
You can find more information on the Ocean Acidification Action Plan here
Advancing the effort to add California’s marine protected area network to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List, IUCN has selected members of the “Expert Assessment Group for the Green List” (EAGL). Drawn from a pool of extremely qualified applicants, these 17 individuals represent California ocean stakeholders from a diverse array of sectors including: ecology, sociology, economics, and management; outreach and education; ocean business and tourism; California’s Tribes and Tribal Governments; commercial and recreational fishermen; citizen scientists; aquaria; and non-governmental organizations. Green List criteria benchmark good governance, sound design and planning, effective management, and successful conservation outcomes The assessment group will hold evaluation meetings and site visits to assess how California’s MPA network meets IUCN’s Green List criteria, and will recommend that the network be added to the Green List if all criteria are met. The initial evaluation process is anticipated to be completed by early 2019.
The following individuals have been selected to serve on the EAGL:
Haylee Bautista
Matthew Bracken
Cameron Dunning
Jan Freiwald
Russell Galipeau
Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš
Michelle Knight
Diane Matar
Russell Moll
Steven Murray
Cara O’Brien
Richard Ogg
Suzanne Olyarnik
Hawk Rosales
Jennifer Savage
Lori Walsh
Jim Webb
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