Strategic Plan
The California Ocean Protection Council’s five-year strategic plan was adopted at the June 8, 2006 public meeting. The final publication is available for download.
Implementation of Strategic Plan as of August 2010.
UPDATE - The public comment period on the Revised Draft Ocean Protection Council Strategic Plan is now closed. Thank you for submitting comments! Received comments can be read here.
OPC’s Key Focal Areas for the next five years
(Posted February 2011)
The following substantive areas comprise the focus of OPC efforts over the next five years. These areas encompass critical ocean threats and potential solutions where the OPC’s core strengths of coordinating agencies, recommending polices, implementing projects, raising awareness, developing partnerships, leveraging funds, and integrating science into decision-making are essential and will have high impact. We recognize that the OPC must remain agile and responsive to other emerging issues and innovative ideas, but the organization will focus on these five areas as a foundation of its efforts. We also recognize there is overlap among the four focal areas and how we define them will evolve throughout the planning process
Climate Change Adaptation to Address Sea Level Rise and Other Climate Impacts to Ocean and Coastal Ecosystems – Support development and implementation of effective near- and longer-term adaptation approaches. The OPC will develop and evaluate opportunities to coordinate policy development across agencies, make essential data and information more readily accessible, support development of consistent approaches to assessing impacts, conduct outreach and education on coastal climate change impacts, obtain federal funds, and assist local governments in planning for and responding to climate change.
Sustainable Fisheries Management to Ensure Healthy and Thriving Marine Ecosystems and Fishing Communities – The OPC will support the work of related agencies and develop innovative approaches to fisheries research and management that advance all of California’s fisheries toward sustainability.
Improved Management across the Land Sea Interface – The OPC will seek to promote better management across the land sea interface, recognizing that the health of the ocean depends on activities on land. The OPC will develop and evaluate opportunities to advance policies and projects that may address polluted runoff, sediment management, and protection of critical wetland and estuarine habitats. The OPC will seek to reduce land-based impacts to the ocean and support the ecosystem functions that connect the land and the sea.
Preparing For Emerging Industrial Uses of the Ocean – Support California agencies in planning for and managing emerging ocean uses, such as desalination and offshore renewable energy. The OPC will evaluate and may support the development of tools and resources for this purpose, such as best management practices, programmatic environmental impacts reports, or data analysis tools.
**Coastal and marine spatial planning is being analyzed on a parallel track as a cross-cutting tool, and will be used to inform strategic plan actions.
OPC Engagement Criteria and Approach
Through a process involving the OPC Steering Committee, OPC Science Advisory Team, and the OPC Management Team, the following criteria were used in selecting the five issue areas above and will be used in determining OPC engagement in future emerging issues and innovative ideas:
* Significance – The issue will have a critical effect on the condition and sustainability of coastal and ocean ecosystems and coastal communities.
* Consistency – Required actions fulfill OPC goals and purpose and are a match to OPC core functions.
* Timeliness – The time is right for OPC engagement.
* Urgency – Action in the near-term is critical for effective engagement
* Probable impacts – The OPC can make a critical, tangible, and lasting difference. The benefit to cost ratio is high.
* Need – The OPC’s core strengths are required for effective state action.
