Aquarium of the Pacific

Fall 2009
Join us for a four-week course that explores Southern California’s urban ocean, what the future may bring, and how we can shape that future.

The greater Long Beach/Los Angeles area has one of the most urbanized coastlines and oceans in the nation and world. Ten million people live within 50 miles of our coastline. We have the nation’s two largest container ports, the largest small boat marina in the world, tens of thousands of recreational fishers, millions of beachgoers, commercial fisheries, offshore oil islands, and more. And we are the stop over for one of the largest and most diverse populations of migratory whales.

The greater Long Beach/Los Angeles area has one of the most urbanized coastlines and oceans in the nation and world.  Ten million people live within 50 miles of our coastline. We have the nation’s two largest container ports, the largest small boat marina in the world, tens of thousands of recreational fishers, millions of beachgoers, commercial fisheries, offshore oil islands, and more.  And we are the stop over for one of the largest and most diverse populations of migratory whales.

Human uses of our coastal ocean are intense and often in conflict with each other and marine life. As human populations grow, sea levels rise, the ocean becomes warmer and more acidic, and coastal storms increase and become more intense, the pressures on our coast will mount. We will need new strategies to protect marine life and accommodate our diverse coastal uses.  Join us as experts and stakeholders explore our urban ocean, what the future may bring, and how we can shape that future.

The course will culminate with a narrated cruise of our local coastline.

Please arrive 30 minutes early for first session.

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