Hundreds of people lined up for the first day of the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market. Credit: Sarah Shoffler

California Sea Grant Extension Specialists use research as a tool to conduct outreach and provide reliable technical and science‐based information to residents to address local needs. California Sea Grant Extension Specialist Theresa Talley and University of San Diego professor Dr. Adina Batnitzky conducted a feasibility study to determine demand for a dockside fish market in the community. The  fishermen’s market opened this weekend.

The following is a guest post from Theresa Talley.

California Sea Grant Extension Specialist Theresa Talley

San Diego’s first fishermen’s market debuted Saturday, August 2. The opening of the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market was a landmark event that revealed some important messages. In the media coverage leading up to the event, it was likened to Pike’s Place Market, the big open-air fish market in Seattle. While exciting to think of it that way, we also need to be cautious if we want our local seafood sales to be sustainable. Here are a few messages gleaned from opening day and post-day scuttlebutt.

San Diego has spoken!
The Port of San Diego estimated more than 1300 people in attendance the first day of the market. As a comparison, the Saturday morning unadvertised off-boat sales that preceded this market generally served 25-40 people during an average morning. While big crowds were expected to be in attendance due to the media attention, a more than 25-fold increase in customers in just one week is truly telling of San Diego’s demand for local product.

Another sign of our fierce demand for local seafood was that the media deemed the opening of this market incredibly newsworthy with three different press conferences in the two weeks before and during the market opening.

The public isn’t the only one wanting direct sales; fishermen and aquafarmers are enthusiastic about keeping more of their products local and having more face time with the public. Nine fishing vessels and one aquafarm participated in this first market compared to the previous single boat operation.

San Diego’s supply is strong and diverse but modest
Saturday’s 5-hour long market offered 14 different types of seafood; thousands of pounds of food was sold, available to anyone willing to stand in line for fresh, local catch. However, with only about 165 fishermen in San Diego, our fisheries cannot sustain the population of more than three million people in San Diego’s metropolitan area on their own. Our local fisheries will likely remain relatively small due to virtually no new fishermen entering the field, the regulatory and economic hurdles associated with entry or expansion, and our healthy, well-managed (but relatively limited) coastal marine resources. But making San Diego seafood a part of your diet will be good for your health, and will do wonders for supporting the local economy, bolstering environmental stewardship, and contributing to our coastal heritage.

Fisherman and Tuna Harbor Dockside Market organizer, Zack Roach, helps customers during opening day of the market.

Bring back the “Catch of the Week” mentality
Because of imports, people are used to a constant supply of a few popular types of seafood and have forgotten the “Catch of the Week” or “Catch of the Day” modus operandi. Local catch, especially responsibly harvested catch, can be quite variable due to weather, season and resource regulations, and ocean conditions. Some species will remain fairly constant throughout the year – smaller fish, invertebrates, and farmed products – but many will have variable availability. It’s just how nature operates. And what’s available locally is different from the imports we’ve been used to seeing. These options are fresh, responsibly-sourced, and exciting that includes several types of crab, snail, tuna and rockfish, as well as sea urchin, black cod, mackerel, and many more. Besides the health and environmental benefits of eating a variety of seafood, San Diego stands to establish its own unique culinary identity.

Tips to keep it sustainable:

1. Make buying truly local (San Diego) seafood a priority- it’s good for your health, the environment, and our local economy.
2. Be aware that catch will vary from week to week, so check market availability ahead of time and/or embrace the surprise of the “Catch of the Week.”
3. Be adventurous, trying a variety of new seafood will keep our fisheries diverse and sustainable.

The Tuna Harbor Dockside Fish Market will open weekly from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays in Seaport Village.

More about the study:
Recipe for Health: San Diego to Open Dockside Fish Market

In the News – Tuna Harbor Dockside Market:
Open-air fish market near Seaport Village opens (ABC 10News)
Locals Line Up for Grand Opening of Harbor Fish Market (NBC 7 San Diego)
Hundreds Turn Out for Grand Opening of Seaside Fish Market (Times of San Diego)

The following is a guest post from Anthony.

My Morning Routine

Anthony Shiao earned his J.D. at the Lewis and Clark Law School and a Master of Advanced Study in Ocean Biodiversity and Conservation from Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

9:00 am: combing through a week-old e-mail exchange with an environmental scientist within the department while slowly sipping a mug of coffee that was a bit too much on the strong side. The discussion was 5+ page-long and centered on the structure and characteristics of a fishery population model.

10:00 am: sifting through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) Code for the DFW Commission’s authority to spatially manage recreational history.

11:00 am: filling out a standardized intra-department regulatory change proposal for an impending regulatory package.

And that was just a single morning from a single day of my fellowship.

Hectic?

Sometimes.

Schizophrenic?

A little, and not in a bad way.

Exciting?

Oh yeah.

Learning to Mesh Science and Law

When I first imparted on my law school and grad school journey, I had little more than a vague idea (and ideal) on interfacing law and science in the field of environmental policy. And while most people I’ve met with could agree on how interesting the idea seems, few could actually point me to a concrete first step in starting my career. A law firm may not strongly emphasize a junior attorney’s ability to perform ANCOVA with R, and senior scientists at a consultation firm are probably not in the best position to comment on a new associate’s application of the substantial evidence standard.

Yet there I was, armed with a master’s degree from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a law degree from Lewis & Clark with very limited idea on how to start my career. The California Sea Grant State Fellowship is an incredible opportunity for me. Here at the Department of Fish and Wildlife I not only have the chance to hone both my legal and scientific skills, but I can actually learn how to integrate the two fields into practical policy instruments. For example, the drafting of a fishery management plan, which occupied the first several months of my fellowship, demands both compliance with the relevant regulatory and management mandates and incorporation of a scientifically-informed adaptive management framework.

Furthermore, the nature of the work here at the Department of Fish and Wildlife is incredibly meaningful. The position offers me a chance to serve the public on an incredibly diverse and challenging subject. It gives me the privilege of working with other incredible individuals, including scientists, lawyers, and managers to tackle issues with numerous scientific, legal, political, and policy complexities. Every day brings a new challenge, and every challenge requires the abilities to work as part of a team, to learn with diligence, and to innovate using all of one’s available resources, training, and experience.

This has been my experience, halfway through the fellowship.  I am constantly grateful for this opportunity. For the other recently graduated young professionals interested in ocean-related policy issues who are not afraid to innovate and to overcome adversities, the CA Sea Grant State Fellowship will no doubt be an ideal first step.

Written by Anthony Shiao

Americorps volunteer Francis Hourigan and fisheries biologist Nick Bauer work up a fish at a downstream migrant trap on Mill Creek. Credit: CA Sea Grant Extension

Once home to healthy populations of steelhead trout, coho and Chinook salmon, California’s Russian River watershed experienced a steep decline in the abundance of these fish in recent decades. Historical estimates place the number of coho salmon in California at around 350,000 to 500,000 fish over their entire coastal range, with perhaps 20,000 in the Russian River.

The number of Russian River coho salmon smolts entering the ocean is estimated to have declined 85 percent, and during the last two decades less than five adult fish returned to spawn most years. Determined to be on the verge of local extinction within the last decade, coho salmon were listed on the California and Federal Endangered Species lists.

In 2001, with the goal of re-establishing self-sustaining runs of coho salmon in tributary streams within the Russian River basin, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers created the Russian River Coho Salmon Captive Broodstock Program (RRCSCBP). Under this program broodstock from the region are captured as juveniles and then raised to maturity and spawned at a hatchery at Lake Sonoma. Offspring are stocked into select Russian River tributaries where habitat assessment work or documented historic coho presence have indicated potential for supporting coho populations.

Following their release, biologists with the California Sea Grant Extension Program monitor the growth and survival of juvenile fish, their migration as smolts to the ocean, and their return to spawn as adults in the winter after about 18 months in the sea. Data collected allows the program to be adaptively managed to improve the potential for success. The monitoring effort involves close collaboration with more than 500 private landowners who allow scientists access to stream reaches on their private property. California Sea Grant Extension Specialist Paul Olin has worked on the project for more than a decade and leads the monitoring component of the RRCSCBP.

“Coho salmon are integral to a balanced, fully-functioning ecosystem. They have a historical legacy in the Russian River as a major source of food for local tribes and until the mid 1900s supported important commercial and recreational fisheries,” said Olin.

“The dramatic decline in coho and Chinook salmon and steelhead populations in the Russian River highlight the need to change and improve our management of coastal and marine resources or these iconic fish could be lost forever to future generations.”

Olin and his team of field biologists led by Mariska Obedzinski use a variety of methods to monitor the fish, including snorkeling, electrofishing, and Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT)  tags coupled with an array of PIT tag antennas. Within the last year, they have installed 24 PIT tag antennas in two arrays that span the Russian River mainstem in Duncans Mills to track the movement of tagged fish and obtain estimates of the total population. In summer of 2013, CASG Extension personnel documented the presence of an estimated 12,590 juvenile coho salmon – the highest recorded numbers in decades.

Olin remains hopeful that the salmon will rebound successfully and thinks this recovery strategy can be applied to other locations.

“I am optimistic about the long term recovery of coho salmon in the Russian River and would like to see it viewed as a model for other river systems where fish populations are endangered or when new habitat is opened up, as is the case when dams are removed and fish can once again access habitat above the dam. This will require a long-term public and private commitment,” said Olin. “It took nearly 100 years to get to this point and I’m hopeful we can restore bountiful fish runs in far less time.”

More:
Drought threatens coho salmon, The Press Democrat
California’s Lost Salmon (below), QUEST Science

Participants provide input about their desire for local seafood at a research event in San Diego. Researchers found there was a demand for a dockside fish market in the region. Credit: Drew M. Talley

After struggling with red tape and permitting procedures for more than a year, San Diego commercial fisherman have hooked the big one – an open-air fish market that will open next month.

Last fall, California Sea Grant Extension Specialist Theresa Talley and University of San Diego professor Dr. Adina Batnitzky conducted a feasibility study to determine demand for a dockside fish market in the region. The researchers found that most participants were willing to drive 15 to 30 minutes, visit monthly or more frequently, and even pay 10% or more if they could buy seafood directly from a fisherman.

Though the demand for dockside markets exists, the commercial fishermen ran into roadblocks in the permitting process. To ensure compliance with public health rules, the county ordered the fishermen to obtain a farmer’s market permit. However, this proved to be a challenge because fishermen aren’t considered farmers. The project seemed tied up in bureaucratic limbo.

Red sea urchins caught locally from San Diego kelp forests. Credit: C. Johnson

On Wednesday, County Supervisor Greg Cox and the Unified Port of San Diego announced that permits have been issued and the dockside market will open for business on Aug. 2 at the Tuna Harbor Pier, near Seaport Village.

“The opening of this dockside market is very exciting. It means better access to fresh, healthy, sustainable seafood for San Diego’s public, more opportunities for San Diego’s struggling fishing and aquaculture communities, and a heightened appreciation of San Diego’s diverse marine resources.” said Talley.

More about the study:
Findings from San Diego Dockside Fishing Markets Feasibility Study to be Presented

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Cowcod is one of the overfished rockfish species that is being protected by the Rockfish Conservation Areas. Adult Cowcod live in deep water (to about 1400 ft deep) and are thought to have a life span of 60-100 years. Image: Rick Starr

California ocean anglers have long pursued the numerous and colorful rockfish species that inhabit the coastal waters. These popular fishes have inspired the name of craft beer and the California Department of Fish and Game lists 57 species native to the state.

However, several rockfish populations plummeted due to overfishing from the 1970s to the 1990s.

In response to this dramatic decline of several rockfish species, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, one of eight regional councils established by Congress, and the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service closed large areas to fishing in 2002. These closures, called Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCAs) occur all along the U.S. west coast, from the Canadian border to Mexico.

RCAs are depth-based closures that are intended to allow the rebuilding of overfished rockfish species. The boundaries change annually, among gear types (e.g., trawl, non-trawl and recreational), species allowed to be extracted by depth and locations, and may have seasonal restrictions, according to NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.

Principal Investigators, Mary Gleason (The Nature Conservancy) and Rick Starr (California Sea Grant) preparing to deploy the video lander off of the Big Sur coast.

The RCAs have been in place for more than a decade, but the extent of stock rebuilding within the closures has yet to be determined.

California Sea Grant Extension Director Rick Starr has worked with Mary Gleason of the Nature Conservancy to put together a team of commercial fishermen, state and federal management agencies, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations that are evaluating the contribution of RCAs to rebuilding the overfished species.

“The RCAs have been closed for more than 12 years now and it’s important to find out what’s happened in those areas since the closure,” said Starr. “Conservation needs are being met by the closures, but we need to start thinking about harvesting the healthy stocks that live in those areas.”

Using a combination of standardized hook-and-line fishing activities and a video lander system, Starr and his team of scientists and fishermen are able to survey the closures and validate predictive maps with scientific data to get a better understanding of rockfish abundance and distribution.

The video lander system works like a lazy Susan; a pair of video cameras are mounted to a rotating tray and dropped into the ocean. The mounted cameras transmit the signal and record the fishes and their habitat. Back in the lab, scientists review the footage to determine fish species, lengths and densities.

This study will advance understanding of finer-scale distributions, habitat associations, and demographic patterns for overfished species inside the closures to support bycatch avoidance plans, stock assessments, and spatial management decisions.

“Our goal is to better understand the distribution of overfished species so that resource managers can reconfigure the RCA to allow for more fishing opportunities,” said Starr.

For management purposes, rockfish are divided into four main categories, depending on the depth where they are most frequently encountered: shallow nearshore, deeper nearshore, shelf, and slope.
View images of these fish (PDF):

• Nearshore Rockfish
• Shelf Rockfish
• Slope Rockfish

What might San Diego look like in four decades? Twelve months ago, we explored this concept after the Climate Education Partners and the San Diego Foundation released the 2050 report detailing what climate change might mean to the city. A follow-up report was recently released with updates to the predictions.

In order for the region’s leaders and community members to make informed decisions for San Diego’s future, the report provides up-to-date science on the local impacts of climate change.

The predictions remain ominous, with changing weather patterns and resource challenges expected.

• TEMPERATURE & PRECIPITATION: Expect to experience hotter and more humid heat waves and less frequent but more intense rainfall.
• WATER RESOURCES: Warming, compounded by less frequent precipitation, will worsen droughts and threaten imported and local water sources.
• COASTAL FLOODING: Extreme high tides and winter storms magnified by sea level rise will result in more frequent and widespread coastal flooding.
• WILDFIRES: Wildfire seasons may be longer and more extreme, with warming temperatures, drier soils and vegetation and less frequent rains.
• NATURE’S BENEFITS: Coastlines and beaches and the region’s unique plants and animals, along with the benefits they provide San Diegans, will be threatened.
• HEALTH: More extended heat waves and less nighttime cooling will put residents’ health at risk.

Image courtesy of Climate Education Partners

Area residents provide broad support for climate action, according to recent polling.

• An overwhelming majority – 84% – of San Diego County residents believe climate change is happening, and almost as many expect the impacts to affect them, their families and future generations.
• 77% of San Diego County voters believe that they can have a clean environment and a strong economy at the same time without having to choose one over the other.
• 72% of San Diego County voters believe that the San Diego region should take a leadership position in setting goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Local governments and public agencies in the region are working with nonprofits, businesses and community organizations to address these issues.

To read the full report that outlines the specific regional impacts of climate change and the actions leaders are engaged in to address these impacts, visit www.sandiego.edu/2050.

Sea Grant Fellows Lauren Bernadett, Karen Kayfetz, and Liz Parissenti attended the OPC-SAT meeting in June. In this post, they explain why the California Sea Grant Fellowship program allowed them to take advantage of the opportunities that arise from the disconnects between scientists and managers.

In the beginning of June, we attended the biannual Ocean Protection Council Science Advisory Team (OPC-SAT) workshop. The OPC-SAT is a group of independent scientists who work for universities, non-profits, tribes, or government agencies to provide guidance so that the Ocean Protection Council (OPC) may apply the best available science to its policy decisions. This is an important call to action, as one of the OPC’s responsibilities is to identify and recommend changes in state and federal law and policy.

This workshop’s topic was “Exploring Ocean Health as a Scientific Concept and Management Goal.” A major goal was to start a discussion around building a shared understanding of “ocean health,” a term that pervades legal mandates, management plans, and policy guidance but has no common definition. This consensus building requires effectively communicating state agency needs and understanding the scientific community’s role. During the meeting, policymakers from the Governor’s office, CA Fish and Game Commission, and State Water Resources Control Board provided their perspective on how a common understanding of ocean health could best assist state agencies, considering these agencies’ mandates, needs, and limitations. The OPC-SAT also discussed how their research and products could provide information that would inform a common understanding of ocean health. At the center of these discussions was the important question: is each group too constrained to be able to adequately harmonize with the other?

A common problem mentioned at the workshop was that agencies must make decisions in real time. Decision-makers rarely have the luxury of waiting for the best possible science and must make decisions with limited and imperfect information. Importantly, they need to know when additional studies are crucial and worth waiting for. Decision-makers would prefer to be able to cite scientific study results with certainty to support a policy. Science, on the other hand, develops slowly and independent of political timeframes. Scientists adhere to the scientific method and usually their results have only limited certainty.

These differences between what decision-makers need and what scientists provide may lead to a disconnect between the two groups. This disconnect can lead to controversial state policy, which then can negatively affect resource management and relationships with important stakeholders across the state.

The discussion at the workshop was emblematic of this common disconnect. While the stated purpose of the OPC-SAT meeting was to work towards a shared and realistic understanding of ocean health to address existing mandates, there was a lot of work to be done developing ideas and debating uses of language. These are important steps towards consensus building, but managers still have the problem of not having the information they need from the scientists when they need it.

Although the workshop discussions strayed from its articulated goal, it was interesting and instructional for all of us involved. As California Sea Grant State Fellows starting our careers at the interface of science and policy, it is important to understand the perspectives of both groups so that we can effectively integrate strong science and effective policy. By putting scientists into positions where they must learn and grapple with ocean and coastal policy, and by putting non-scientists into positions where they must listen to and incorporate science, California Sea Grant is training our future ocean and coastal leaders to overcome the science-policy disconnect and make the two work together as effectively as possible. Indeed, people who understand both worlds are the most likely to be able to make the appropriate and beneficial connections between them.

The workshop was a great opportunity to see the value of our fellowship experience in action.

Written by Lauren Bernadett, Karen Kayfetz, and Liz Parissenti

Bethany Baibak

California Sea Grant provides unique educational opportunities for graduate students in the form of 12-month paid fellowships. Bethany Baibak completed her fellowship at the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Natural Resources Division.

The following is a guest post from Bethany.

As a biology graduate student at Humboldt State University and a field biologist who has had the opportunity to work in many different areas of ecology, I pursued the California Sea Grant State Fellowship because I was looking for an additional skill set beyond my scientific training. My overall goal has always been to work with communities to help them manage their natural resources and I felt that working in the Natural Resources Division of California State Parks (Parks) as a Fellow presented the opportunity to gain the skills to do just that.

My fellowship began with a three-day training with the Delta Science Program, where we were briefed both on the need for more science-based decisions in government and on tactics used to deliver scientific information effectively to a variety of audiences.  The training was a brief introduction to exactly what I hoped I would learn through the fellowship: how to communicate to a wide audience, how to be an effective liaison between different interest groups, and how to operate at the interface of science, policy, and management.

In addition to working with Parks, I was able to gain significant communication experience with the Thank You Ocean campaign, which aimed to “unite voices and amplify messages to raise ocean awareness and promote everyday actions that protect the ocean.” As an extension of this campaign, I had the privilege to help organize and facilitate meetings with the Ocean Communicators Alliance (OCA). This alliance consisted of other agencies, recreation groups, tribal representatives, and other interested parties who were involved in the successful implementation of the Marine Protected Areas. Through OCA, I learned a great deal about the facilitation process and working with different types of interest groups.

Working as a fellow gave me the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at both Parks headquarters and field offices. The complex structure of Parks and the diverse perspectives I gained from staff fascinated me.  Interactions with the staff motivated me to get involved with Parks Forward, an independent commission set up to assess Parks and make recommendations for its long-term viability. Although my role was minor, my involvement gave me the unique opportunity to witness the methodology of restructuring a state agency. This included addressing financial, operational, and cultural challenges that have made it difficult for Parks to adapt to rapidly changing times and an expanding population.

The main focus of my fellowship, however, was the Parks Sea-level Rise and Extreme Event Guidance document, which is meant to guide and inform project planning along the 300-plus miles of California coastline owned by Parks. Although the document had been started a few years prior, it had not been completed. Significant changes in policy and science had occurred, so that many of the technical details needed to be updated.  Developing a document that incorporated the latest scientific information and communicated that information in a straightforward, easy-to follow way turned out to be the most challenging, yet most rewarding, part of my fellowship. I believe that the Sea-level Rise Guidance document is something that can be utilized by all Parks staff, regardless of educational background.

A major aspect of my work was facilitating the Parks Sea-level Rise Working Group, which was made up of representatives from all the major divisions within Parks, including Boating and Waterways, Cultural Resources, Planning, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation, Communications, Facilities, and Natural Resources. This group was established to provide clear-cut strategies that directly apply to the challenges faced by Parks as a result of sea-level rise and extreme weather events.   It was a privilege to be part of a group with such exceptional people from each division, who may not have always agreed but were united in a common goal. This was a great lesson in cooperation and in learning how to balance the priorities of different divisions.

An important part of establishing the guidance document was ground truthing (a.k.a. confirming) it with staff in the field to make sure that it would indeed be an effective tool. It was during this process that I began to appreciate the diverse challenges faced by each district and the varied roles played by the Parks Environmental Scientists in the field. With approximately 1.5 million acres of land owned by Parks, and ecosystems that range from mountaintops to estuaries, the field staff are asked to have both broad resource knowledge and expertise in communication. When it comes to upholding the mission of Parks, to preserve and protect the unique natural and cultural resources of this state while providing opportunities for high quality recreation, the Environmental Scientists at Parks have a critical role.

My fellowship ended much the same way that it started, at a training workshop. This time, though, it was the annual training for Parks Environmental Scientists, and I had been invited to present the Sea-level Rise and Extreme Event Guidance document. It was an honor to present my work to the scientists who I had grown to respect so much and who would now be asked to follow the procedures outlined in the guidance document. The training also included a presentation on environmental negotiation that highlighted the need for careful and thoughtful communication with stakeholders affected by management decisions. As a result, my next step became clear – certification as a mediator. As someone who has always looked at controversy as an opportunity to help diverse groups understand each other better, I believe that further training in public mediation would increase my ability to help communities manage their natural resources in long-term and sustainable ways. The California Sea Grant State Fellowship was a tremendous experience that provided many unexpected opportunities for growth and I feel very fortunate to have been hosted by the Natural Resources Division of California State Parks.

Written by Bethany Baibak

Evyan Borgnis earned a master’s degree in biology and systematic ecology from the Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies at San Francisco State University in 2013.

California Sea Grant provides unique educational opportunities for graduate students in the form of 12-month paid fellowships. Evyan Borgnis is currently completing her fellowship at the California Coastal Conservancy.

The following is a guest post from Evyan.

Throughout my research career, I have attended, presented and volunteered at more than twelve scientific conferences ranging from local conferences focused on San Francisco Bay-Delta to presenting my graduate work at an international conference in Argentina. From these experiences, I joined the 12^th annual Headwaters to Ocean (H20) conference organizing committee as a California Sea Grant State Fellow with boldness and a belief that I had “seen it all.” How quickly my arrogance faded upon facing the intricate process of selecting and coordinating presenters, sessions, space, food, volunteers, sponsors, exhibitors, attendees and equipment! However, with the strong support and skill of fellow organizing committee members, I was able to develop new programs and even fight to keep aspects of the conference that were soon to expire due to limited funds. Participating in H20 as an organizer allowed me to enjoy a scientific conference like I never had before.

The Challenge to Recruit Students
At my first organizing committee meeting, I sensed that members were unsatisfied with the amount of student participation in past years. Feeding off that concern, I was able to successfully propose hosting a Student Poster Session. I hoped H20’s student participation would increase by offering an event for students with a first-place prize incentive. While I did hit some road blocks and resistance along the way, I was able to achieve my goal with approximately 25 students (out of 250 total attendees) registered in the event, 14 students presenting in the competition, and Taylor Debevec from the Bren School at UCSB winning $100 dollars as the first place winner. As a recent graduate, I was thrilled that I was able to provide more opportunities for students to learn from and network with professionals in the field.

Cutting Costs, Not Corners
At another committee meeting, members expressed that H20 would no longer provide paper programs in order to cut costs. Although I personally thrive in today’s digital age, at a conference I need that visceral experience that comes with circling presentation titles and writing notes directly into a program. I decided to seek out external funding to solve this dilemma. While I was successful in securing those funds, another issue reared its head: the program cover would need to be designed. I decided to coordinate the design process to ensure H20 had a modern and professional program. After teaming up with a designer at the Coastal Conservancy, Kara Kemmler, we were able to develop a simple and beautiful program. (See the final result in the gallery below.)

The Meeting of Minds
One of my most rewarding achievements at H20 was the two-part session I developed and coordinated entitled “Wetland Monitoring.” My sharp and supportive supervisor, Megan Cooper, first had the idea to gather scientists and practitioners conducting wetland monitoring throughout southern California in a room to discuss coordinating efforts on a regional scale. I decided to run with this idea and contacted various monitoring scientists throughout the region asking them to contribute to a session at H20. I received such an overwhelmingly positive response that this session was expanded into two sessions! At a time when I was struggling to grasp how to further develop the Southern California Wetland Recovery Project’s regional monitoring program, this session provided a needed forum to share next steps and develop professional connections for wetland monitoring coordination.

Cultivating Conference Confidence
My Sea Grant fellowship has provided me with numerous opportunities to develop new skills and network with professionals thus far. Being a part of the H20 organizing committee gave me a sense of purpose that I had never experienced at a conference before. This confidence helped me pursue intimidating scientists and managers throughout the conference and I intend to carry this conviction with me to all other professional meetings in my future.

Written by Evyan Borgnis

California Sea Grant provides unique educational opportunities for graduate students in the form of 12-month paid fellowships. Lauren Bernadett began her fellowship in March at the California State Lands Commission.

The following is a guest post from Lauren.

Lauren Bernadett earned her J.D. at the UCLA School of Law and is currently working as a CA Sea Grant State Fellow at the California State Lands Commission.

I went to law school to be an environmental lawyer. I clerked for the Attorney General’s Land Law Section and the Natural Resources Defense Council during my summers, but finding a post-grad job in my dream field was challenging. During law school, I focused on marine resources, fisheries, and aquaculture law and policy, so I accepted a temporary position at the University of Arkansas that would allow me to focus on aquaculture and fisheries.

While researching for an aquaculture project, I stumbled upon the California Sea Grant website and saw that they offered fellowships in marine policy for recent graduate students. I thought there was no reason a J.D. shouldn’t count as a graduate degree and I noticed that some of the host agencies listed fellowship work that would be great experience for a new environmental lawyer: analyzing jurisdictional issues under sea level rise, working on every aspect of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), attending legislative hearings and forums, informing state permitting processes, and facilitating public participation. Some of the host agencies interpret and carry out state and federal laws, engage in rulemaking, bring enforcement actions, and get sued – I figured there would be no better way to learn administrative and environmental law than from the inside.

At the fellowship interviews, many more host agencies than I predicted were excited about the prospect of having a lawyer as a fellow. They were interested in my legal training because so much of their work involves understanding policy and legal processes and concepts that it made sense to hire someone who already views the world from those perspectives. Viewed against my original judgments from the fellowship descriptions, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of opportunity available to a new lawyer through the Sea Grant Fellowship Program. Whereas I thought that my background and goals might be an appropriate fit for only one or two of the fellowship positions, I identified many that I thought would help me develop my ideal and specific legal career.

As a fellow with the California State Lands Commission, I am developing expertise that will make me a more marketable attorney. I am already developing expertise in the process and nuances of CEQA. I have seen the influence of the public at agency meetings and legislative forums. I wrote internal memoranda for our attorneys and scientists on cutting-edge CEQA and statutory interpretation issues. I am preparing a presentation on aquaculture permitting that I will deliver at a conference. All these and other projects are helping me to develop a concrete skill set that I will be able to carry forward into permanent future jobs, whether as an attorney or policy-focused staff.

As I alluded to above, a benefit unique to the Sea Grant Fellowship is that it gives new attorneys the opportunity to explore whether they would like to pursue a policy-based position or an attorney position after the fellowship. I get the opportunity to work on legal and policy projects, work with attorneys and scientists, and see the day-to-day work of attorneys and non-legal staff. Simultaneously, I am developing knowledge and skills that will be relevant regardless of whether I choose to pursue a legal career or a policy-focused career. This flexibility and opportunity for reflection on my ideal career is an easily overlooked benefit of the Sea Grant Fellowship, but one which I highly value and think should appeal to law students considering public-sector law and/or policy work.

Written by Lauren Bernadett