"For nearly a century, Scripps scientists have been studying the last frontier between society and nature: our coastal oceans." —Charles F. Kennel   Scripps's Commitment Connecting scientific discovery with society's need to achieve a sustainable coastal environment. (Quicktime movie)

Preserving California's Coastline

Stretching for 1,100 miles, California’s coastline is an invaluable state asset with global influence.

California coastal waters provide food, energy, and recreation and support industries and transportation, which generate billions of dollars in commerce and revenues. Just as valuable are the coast’s natural resources–an abundance of plants and animals, diverse habitats, and sandy beaches.

California’s coastal ocean is healthy overall, but areas of concern remain that are related to a swelling population, expanded development, overfishing, and increased pollution. Even though laws and regulations exist to protect and manage such issues, California’s own ocean-planning documents point out the lack of a comprehensive program for sustaining ocean resources for the future.

In this video edition of Explorations, we introduce four Scripps researchers who are investigating some of these ecological and environmental issues. They are seeking an understanding of coastal conditions that will help provide policy makers and government agencies with the necessary science to make informed decisions concerning California’s ocean assets.