While the Trump administration rolls back environmental protections, California is doubling down on keeping its coast and ocean healthy. The state just released its first-ever comprehensive report on coastal and ocean health, and it’s backed by some serious investments, over $6 million in funding for science and restoration projects that are actually going to make a difference.

The 2026 California Coast and Ocean Report is a big deal because it’s the first time the state has put together a full scientific assessment of how our coastline and ocean are doing. And here’s the thing: the report shows that while California’s coast and ocean are generally in pretty good shape, climate change is already messing things up in real ways. We’re talking about threats to marine life, ecosystems that are struggling, and risks to the communities that depend on the ocean.

The good news? California is actually addressing these problems head-on. Most of our beaches have excellent water quality, and we’ve got the best beach safety systems in the country keeping swimmers informed about water conditions. But there are some serious challenges too. Salmon and Dungeness crab, fisheries that people’s livelihoods depend on, are in crisis because of climate change. The state is fighting back though, from removing dams on the Klamath River to restoring habitats and improving how we collect data on fish populations.

Marine life is taking hits in other ways too. Over 95% of Northern California’s bull kelp forests have vanished in the last decade, which is honestly devastating. California’s investing heavily in research and restoration projects to bring kelp back. Whales are getting tangled in fishing gear, so the state is working with fishing communities to develop new “whale-safe” fishing gear. And our ocean is becoming six times more corrosive to marine life than it was before we started burning fossil fuels everywhere.

But California isn’t just identifying problems, we’re putting money where our mouth is. The state is committed to conserving 30% of its coastal waters by 2030, and last year alone we added over 1 million acres of conserved land and waters. That’s bigger than Rhode Island. We’ve also established new national monuments, restored habitats at the Salton Sea, and made sure that regular people can actually access our state parks through discount passes and youth community programs.

Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot put it clearly: “Our coast and ocean is generally healthy, but climate change and other stressors threaten coastal communities and ecosystems”. That’s why California’s ramping up action-oriented science and restoration projects along the entire coastline.

The California coast isn’t just an environmental treasure, it’s also an economic powerhouse that generates over $44 billion annually and supports countless local jobs. That’s another reason we can’t afford to mess around when it comes to ocean health.