Marine and Coastal Policy

California is a coastal-dependent state and has the nation’s large ocean economy, which includes coastal tourism and recreation; transportation, ports and harbors; living marine resources; offshore energy and minerals; and coastal construction. To be healthy and productive, however, coastal oceans and the economies that depend upon them need to be healthy and sustainable. It has become apparent in recent decades, however, that human activities, in California and globally, have produced significant impacts in our coastal oceans, threatening their health and seriously impacting their ability to sustain themselves.

 Scientists with the Marine and Coastal Policy cluster are involved directly or indirectly in their research with coastal and marine policy issues and developing the scientific foundation for best management and policy solutions for the problems or issues confronting us today. Fisheries management, marine protected areas, marine spatial planning, habitat restoration, water quality, harmful algal blooms, endangered or threatened species, sea-level rise and impacts of coastal hazards on communities, are all examples of the diverse research underway within this cluster.

 The Institute has provided office space and developed Memorandums of Understanding and Cooperative Agreements with several marine policy oriented organizations including The Nature Conservancy’s Global Marine Team, Island Conservation, the Natural Capital Project, and the California Sea Grant Extension Program, which all provide opportunities for policy focused research projects and mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students.

Faculty (Professors and Adjuncts) and Professional Researchers affiliated with the Marine and Coastal Policy Cluster Group:

Michael Beck, Researcher, Adjunct Professor of Ocean Sciences: Marine conservation, regional biodiversity planning, habitat restoration, marine proprietary rights.

Mark Carr, Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology:  Marine ecology, applied marine ecology.

Gary Griggs, Distinguished Professor of Earth & Planetary Sciences: Coastal zone and ranges from coastal evolution and development, through shoreline processes, coastal hazards and coastal engineering, and sea level rise.

Kristy Kroeker, Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology:  Global change biology, community ecology, applied marine ecology.

Carrie Pomeroy, Research Scientist, Adjunct Professor CSP: Human dimensions of fisheries and fishing communities, and how environmental, regulatory, social and economic factors affect their function and well-being.

Peter Raimondi, Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology: Marine ecology, evolutionary ecology, experimental design, applied ecology.

Borja Reguero, Acting Associate Professor in the Physical and Biological Sciences Division: Works at the intersection of coastal engineering, risk management, and policy to advance sustainable solutions in coastal areas. His research and teaching interests span areas of climate change and adaptation.

Katherine Seto, Assistant Professor, Environmental Studies Department: Marine and coastal law and policy, political ecology, marine resource governance