Aquarium of the Pacific

California’s ocean economy is the largest of any state in the nation. Recreation and tourism are the largest drivers statewide, and in Southern California shipping and global trade are the largest single driver.

But well before the end of this century, California’s coastal ocean will be very different from that of today. The ocean will continue to play vitally important roles in California’s economy and quality of life, but it will likely require changes in our policy and regulatory frameworks. 

We have many ocean issues to address today to prevent the worst from happening in the future. Many of us have heard the bad news. We may lose up to 25 percent of the ocean biodiversity we have today. The ocean will be more acidic and sea level will rise. The Earth and the upper ocean will be warmer. Tropical storms may be more frequent and more intense. Prolonged droughts in the Southwest may be more frequent, more intense, and more prolonged. Coastal erosion will be intensified, and coastal wetlands will be lost. Southern California’s imported fresh water supplies will probably be reduced as a result of climate change. What can we do about it?

Many questions will be explored in this class. We will look for desirable changes. Can California be a player in the development of offshore renewable energy? Will California develop an offshore sustainable aquaculture industry? Might we have a new regime of spatial allocation of uses of our coastal ocean? As coastal residents, do we need to retreat from the shoreline or protect it, or both, depending upon the areas? Join some of California’s leading scientists and ocean policy makers in exploring these issues.

Location:
Watershed Classroom
Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium Way,
Long Beach, CA 90802

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