Oceans

WILDCOAST is helping to ensure the long term conservation of precious marine ecosystems and the diversity of wildlife found within them.

Image Credit: Brian Skerry

California's MPAs

Protecting 16% of state waters, California’s MPAs offer a protected corridor for iconic wildlife like the humpback whale to travel along the Western coast of the United States.

Image Credit: Ralph Pace

MARINE DEBRIS

WILDCOAST mitigates the impact of marine debris by organizing beach clean ups, pushing for strict legislation and creating new recycling markets.

Image Credit: Brian Skerry

ISLANDS

The islands and the marine ecosystems that surround them of California, the Gulf of California and Mexico’s Pacific Baja coastline are among the world’s most iconic and are globally significant for their endemism, biodiversity and productivity.

Image Credit: Ralph Lee Hopkins

Establishing robust marine protected areas in the Californias and areas of the ocean that are biologically diverse.

Putting a stop to overfishing and other destructive practices like offshore drilling and deep-sea mining

WILDCOAST is leading efforts in California to conserve 545,280 acres of MPAs

Protect

We protect ocean wilderness off the coast of the Californias through protected area management, monitoring, outreach and public engagement.

Image Credit: Octavio Aburto

Partner

Together with more than 600 partners, including the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California MPA Collaborative Network, MPA Watch Network, local original nations, fishermen, researchers, volunteers and Mexico's National Commission for Natural Protected Areas, we are working to ensure the protection of open ocean.

Image Credit: Krissel Rivas

Where We Work

From the rugged coast of Northern California to the vibrant shores of Oaxaca and across borders, the oceans connect us all. Our programs establish new marine protected areas, deter poachers and build conservation capacity in local communities.

See More Areas

Our Impact

545,280

acres of coastal and marine ecosystems in California established as marine protected areas

9,734

acres of marine protected areas monitored by RADAR in San Diego County

4,338

volunteers trained to help monitor human use in 68 California MPAs

100,000

lbs of debris removed from the Tijuana River & prevented from reaching the Pacific Ocean through trash booms

38.2

million acres of marine habitat conserved in Mexico

DONATE

Donate Now

Image Credit: Octavio Aburto

VOLUNTEER

Volunteer Now

Image Credit: Octavio Aburto

In the Wild

Check out the latest updates from our blog

Exploring Tidepools: How the Tidepool Ambassadors Program Inspires Ocean Conservation

From Lines to Fines: Using Technology and Partnership to Safeguard Ocean Resources

Everything You Need to Know about Lobster Season in California

45-degree view of the Oceanside Pier with a pink, purple, and gold sunset behind it.

Announcing the Kind Traveler Every Stay Gives Back Program!

Finding Beauty in Our Own Backyard

WILDCOAST in the News!

CORAL REEFS

Coral reefs play an important role in sustaining our oceans and global economies. WILDCOAST is working to conserve coral reefs throughout Mexico and Cuba by establishing protected areas and promoting reef stewardship and education.

Learn More

Image Credit: Claudio Contreras-Koob

WHALES

The gray whale winters and breeds in Baja’s warm, pristine lagoons—an area threatened by industrial development. Together with the local government and conservation groups, WILDCOAST is defending this vital shoreline.

Learn More

Image Credit: Claudio Contreras-Koob

CLIMATE CHANGE

As global temperatures rise, sea levels are climbing. In partnership with Mexico’s National Commission for Protected Natural Areas, WILDCOAST is helping conserve thousands of acres of carbon-storing mangroves in northwest Mexico.

Climate Change

Image Credit: Octavio Aburto

SEA TURTLES

Sea turtles are key to healthy oceans but now face extinction. WILDCOAST is conserving sea turtles by protecting nesting beaches, addressing poaching and support local communities in sustainable practices.

Learn more

Image Credit: Claudio Contreras-Koob

MANGROVES

Mangroves are among the world’s greatest carbon sequestering plants, absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it within their rich soils.

Learn more

Image Credit: WILDCOAST

COASTAL WETLANDS

In 1971 the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance was signed as an international treaty for worldwide wetland conservation. Wetlands are recognized for their ecological importance on a global scale, acting as buffers for coastal communities and providing important habitat for thousands of species.

Learn more

Image Credit: Claudio Contreras-Koob

WILDLANDS

Spanning the Baja California peninsula are millions of acres of protected areas that include open ocean, rugged islands, mangrove lagoons and wilderness coastline.

Learn more

Image Credit: Dan Cartamil

Oceans

California's MPAs

MARINE DEBRIS

ISLANDS

Follow Us

Establishing robust marine protected areas in the Californias and areas of the ocean that are biologically diverse. Putting a stop to overfishing and other destructive practices like offshore drilling and deep-sea mining WILDCOAST is leading efforts in California to conserve 545,280 acres of MPAs

Protect

Partner

Where We Work

Our Impact

545,280

acres of coastal and marine ecosystems in California established as marine protected areas

9,734

acres of marine protected areas monitored by RADAR in San Diego County

4,338

volunteers trained to help monitor human use in 68 California MPAs

100,000

lbs of debris removed from the Tijuana River & prevented from reaching the Pacific Ocean through trash booms

38.2

million acres of marine habitat conserved in Mexico

DONATE

VOLUNTEER

In the Wild

Exploring Tidepools: How the Tidepool Ambassadors Program Inspires Ocean Conservation

From Lines to Fines: Using Technology and Partnership to Safeguard Ocean Resources

Everything You Need to Know about Lobster Season in California

Announcing the Kind Traveler Every Stay Gives Back Program!

Finding Beauty in Our Own Backyard

WILDCOAST in the News!

More of our work

CORAL REEFS

Coral reefs play an important role in sustaining our oceans and global economies. WILDCOAST is working to conserve coral reefs throughout Mexico and Cuba by establishing protected areas and promoting reef stewardship and education.

WHALES

The gray whale winters and breeds in Baja’s warm, pristine lagoons—an area threatened by industrial development. Together with the local government and conservation groups, WILDCOAST is defending this vital shoreline.

CLIMATE CHANGE

As global temperatures rise, sea levels are climbing. In partnership with Mexico’s National Commission for Protected Natural Areas, WILDCOAST is helping conserve thousands of acres of carbon-storing mangroves in northwest Mexico.

SEA TURTLES

Sea turtles are key to healthy oceans but now face extinction. WILDCOAST is conserving sea turtles by protecting nesting beaches, addressing poaching and support local communities in sustainable practices.

MANGROVES

Mangroves are among the world’s greatest carbon sequestering plants, absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it within their rich soils.

COASTAL WETLANDS

WILDLANDS

Spanning the Baja California peninsula are millions of acres of protected areas that include open ocean, rugged islands, mangrove lagoons and wilderness coastline.

Establishing robust marine protected areas in the Californias and areas of the ocean that are biologically diverse.

Putting a stop to overfishing and other destructive practices like offshore drilling and deep-sea mining

WILDCOAST is leading efforts in California to conserve 545,280 acres of MPAs