Photo by Michael Gordon

Summer Event Spurs Community Involvement and Economic Growth

Visit Ventura, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing visitor expenditures, tourism revenues, and local employment through promoting Ventura as a travel destination, has announced that this year’s X Games will celebrate Ventura even more than last year. Multiple local businesses, vendors, and contractors will participate in the world’s leading action sports competition. This year’s X Games Ventura event takes place from Friday, June 28, 2024, to Sunday, June 30, 2024, at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

Local businesses, including Spencer Makenzie’s, Happy Place Eatery, and Rocket Fizz, will serve as food vendors on-site, giving thousands of fans the chance to taste Ventura favorites. Over 20 local businesses with special X Games offerings will be featured in the X Games Ventura spectator guide given to every attendee.

Local integration and support in this year’s event take many forms. From contracting with Ventura-based labor crew I Am The Phoenix Labor and Production to teaming up with local PR representatives for regional marketing efforts, Ventura businesses are working behind the scenes to make X Games Ventura a success. Bike Ventura and Revolution Skateshop will again run the free, first-come, first-serve bike and skateboard check at the venue.

“A global event like the X Games brings unparalleled excitement and energy to Ventura while showcasing a strong commitment to our local community,” said Ventura Mayor Joe Schroeder. “The X Games, Visit Ventura, and our community partners recognize that our local restaurants, shops, and vendors capture the unique flavor and spirit of Ventura. Hosting such an event is a collective effort, and we are thrilled to see it come together. The infusion of this energy into our local economy allows everyone to share in its benefits.”

“Feel-good events like the Ventura Land Trust and Surfrider community clean-ups next week demonstrate that the X Games is not just an event coming to town, but a celebration of our shared values and spirit,” said Marlyss Auster, President & CEO of Visit Ventura. “I am so excited to see so many partners and community members involved. Home pride is once again beaming!”

Event Schedule:

• Wednesday, June 26: Ventura Harbor Village Seaside Summer Kickoff — Waterfront Wednesdays at the Ventura Harbor start with a special X Games celebration. Fans and visitors can enjoy an X Games ticket giveaway, a Big Lawn Concert, and the FIRST-EVER Visit Ventura Drone Show at Ventura Harbor.
• Wednesday, June 26: EXtreme Boogie Night — Get moving for X Games Ventura with a special Boogie Nights 5k run along the beautiful Ventura Promenade.
• Wednesday, June 26: Ventura Roller Disco — Tap into nostalgia under a dazzling disco ball at Ventura’s FIRST-EVER Roller Disco, presented by Ventura Coast Brewing Company. Bring your skates or rent on-site for an introduction to skates workshop, a guided dance lesson, live DJ sets, skate community vendors, and more.

• Thursday, June 27: Ventura Skate Jam — Downtown Ventura and the City of Ventura present the second annual, all-ages free Ventura Skate Jam to kick off X Games Ventura. Local skate shop BlackHole Skate Shop will host and bring the setup for both young and old to show their skills on the ramps. Young skaters can join in on the fun at Skate & Create, taking place during the Skate Jam, where they can skate a mini park, make their own t-shirts, and more.
• Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday: Visit Ventura Drone Show — Visit Ventura is proud to announce the return of the Visit Ventura Drone Show, an eco-friendly display of 500 drones to celebrate X Games Ventura. Two shows have been added this year, making a total of five shows to dazzle and delight.

“The Visit Ventura Drone Show will be a fantastic kickoff to the summer season here at Ventura Harbor,” said Brian Pendleton, the Port District’s general manager. “It will draw visitors to Ventura Harbor midweek in support of our local merchants, including restaurants, retail, entertainment, and boating, and will also showcase Ventura Harbor Village as the vibrant seaside shopping destination it is.”

For more information about community events for X GAmes Ventura, check out the Visit Ventura Blog at www.VisitVentura.com.

Pictured left to right: Jim Duran, Councilmember; Sandy Sanchez, Senior Developer; Mike Johnson, Councilmember; Jim White, Vice Chair; Jeffrey Lambert, Chief Executive Officer; Joe Schroeder, Mayor, Salud Carbajal, Congressman; John Polanskey, Board Chair; Sierra Atilano, Executive Vice President of Development, Bridge Housing; Katherine Simonson, Commissioner; Marcia Vega, HUD Regional Public Housing Director Region 9 & 10; Barbara Keller, Commissioner, Diana Sparagna, Commissioner. Courtesy of Jessie Carmody

Housing Complex is largest in the City of Ventura and Furthers the Vision for the Entire Westview Village Development

The Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura (HACSB) and nonprofit BRIDGE Housing hosted the Grand Opening of Westview Village II, a 50-unit affordable rental development which broke ground in the spring of 2022. 

The Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura and BRIDGE Housing partnered to redevelop Westview Village, the HACSB’s oldest public housing development, over four phases of development. All residents pay 30% of their income as rent. 

“The timing of this next phase of Westview Village is significant as it is our 75th Anniversary year and this was our first public housing project,” said Jeffrey Lambert, Chief Executive Officer, HACSB.  “The success of this particular project is emblematic of our successful housing programs across the City and we are very proud of it,” said Lambert.

Westview Village Phase II replaced 10 public housing units with 50 modern one- and two-bedroom apartments. The property is located on a 2-acre site on the Westside of Ventura. The development includes 44 one-bedroom and six two-bedroom apartments. Five of the units will be reserved for persons who are experiencing homelessness. 

Westview Village II will also include a state-of-the-art community center, a commercial kitchen, two early childhood development classrooms, multipurpose rooms, a rooftop community garden, and a public park. This will complete the third phase of the vision for the Westview Village redevelopment. There will be 286 new affordable rentals and this phase of development will be the hub for this new housing campus. 50% of the Westview II units are fully accessible (mobility accessibility features), and 2 units have audio/visual features for blind/deaf/hard of hearing tenants.

Westview Village I, completed in 2019, was the initial phase of the redevelopment which includes 131 apartments with one to four bedrooms, management offices, a community room, and a public park. Phase I is all electric and 50% net zero. It provides for greywater reuse in landscaping. All residents pay 30% of their income as rent. All residents were temporarily relocated during construction and had the right to return. As part of Phase I, a new street, Village Way, was designed and built to connect all phases of the redevelopment.

Westview Village III construction started in September 2020 and was completed in December 2022. Phase III includes 105 apartments with one to four bedrooms, a community room, and public park. Phase III is all electric and 100% net zero and makes a major contribution to addressing climate change including by reducing vehicle miles traveled. The project’s storm drain system allows for the capture and infiltration of storm water. Twenty-one apartments are set aside for families who are experiencing homelessness. 

Historical Significance As the oldest public housing development, housing units at this location were developed in two phases (100 units and 80 units), ten years apart in the 1952-1960s. This original development housed residents displaced from “Tortilla Flats,” a neighborhood that consisted of working-class families who were displaced when the 101 Freeway expanded north from Los Angeles through Oxnard and Ventura. The original 180 units are being replaced with 320 units by the time Phase IV is completed.

The mission of the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura is to provide and develop quality affordable housing for eligible low-income residents of Ventura County and to establish strong partnerships necessary for HACSB customers to achieve personal goals related to, literacy and education, health and wellness, and job training and employment leading to personal growth and economic self-sufficiency.

Left to Right: Marilyn Beal, junior coordinator, Linda Petit, Auxiliary president, Peter Nguyen, Leo Pankratz, Olivia Mowad, and Mick Zdeblick, CEO of CMH)

Three outstanding high school graduates were the 2024 recipients of scholarship awards given by the Community Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. Each of the students had contributed more than 160 volunteer hours in the Critical Care Unit of the hospital and will continue their education in the medical field.

The Maria Cavallo Scholarship was awarded to both Peter Nguyen and Leo Pankratz. Peter Nguyen graduated from Buena High School where he maintained a 4.55 weighted GPA. High school activities included CSF, Buena Science League, Key Club treasurer, tennis team, and Navy League Cadet Corps. He was named an AP Scholar, Buena’s Platinum Renaissance, and was a Stanford University School of Medicine summer intern, and Port Hueneme’s Naval Base Pre-Engineering intern. Peter will attend U.C. Berkeley in the fall, majoring in Bioengineering with the goal of becoming an anesthesiologist.

Leo Pankratz attended Foothill Technology High School and earned a 4.23 weighted GPA. He volunteered in the school’s Wellness Center and in the medical tent for the Mountain 2 Beach Marathon, played baseball for 3 years, and was a memeber of HOSA, and president of NAMI. He was named a CSF-SS Scholar 2021-2023, and received the Ruby Award for more than 200 hours of community service. He worked for two summers at Loma Vista Endocrinology, Inc. He will attend the University of Nevada at Reno majoring in Neuroscience and hopes to become a doctor.

The Norma MacGregor Scholarship was awarded to Olivia Mowad of Foothill Technology High School. She achieved a weighted GPA of 4.75 while participating in the Blue Water Task Force, was a member and lab manager for the Bioscience program, a HOSA member, Editor-in-Chief of the Dragon Press, and played varsity basketball. She was a member of CSF, won the Pacemaker Journalism award, obtained certification in Basic Life Support, and was MVP and first team All-County and All-League in basketball. She will entering the School of Nursing at the University of Gonzaga in the fall and hopes to become a nurse anesthetist.

The Auxiliary members as well as hospital staff offer their congratulations and best wishes for continued success to these deserving students.

A spectacular Ventura sunset from last year’s X Games. Photo courtesy of Visit Ventura.

The countdown has begun for the highly anticipated X Games Ventura, set for June 28-30 at the Ventura Fairgrounds. After last year’s hugely popular event, the summer games are returning to Ventura, where some of the world’s top extreme athletes will compete against the stunning coastal backdrop. “Southern California is the birthplace of action sports and a culture that is now global,” said long-time host and recently appointed X Games Chief of Sports Culture Selema Masekela. “Last year was legendary, so we are excited to return to Ventura and turn things up a notch.”     

Last year’s event drew an estimated 52,000 attendees. This year, the City of Ventura, Visit Ventura, and local partners are collaborating to ensure sustainable travel options, ease traffic impacts, and foster community involvement throughout downtown. “To say we’re stoked is an understatement,” said Marlyss Auster, President and CEO of Visit Ventura. “We’re still beaming with hometown pride with what took place in our Ventura last year. We’re excited to make this summer even better… We’re ready to see athletes break more records and do it all by the beach with our coastline as the perfect backdrop. We’re stoked — let’s do this!”

In an announcement on the official X Games Ventura website, organizers promise this year’s event will be bigger and better than last year, with a larger footprint and improved viewing options, new medaled events and greater experiences, “We’re stoked to be bringing a full-fledged festival experience to X Games Ventura 2024 presented by SONIC, featuring special musical guest appearances, art installations, cultural activations, immersive brand experiences, and of course all the action sports.”

Tony Hawk, a pioneer of vertical skateboarding and one of the most famous figures in the sport’s history, is a 10-time X Games gold medalist and telecast host. When asked about the significance of the summer event, Hawk said, “X Games is a breeding ground for milestones in our sports. It’s where the best in the world consistently go for their biggest, their best, and their firsts. This summer will be huge for action sports, but X Games is where the athletes choose to showcase their most innovative tricks and progressive runs. Ventura will witness history in the making.”

Single day tickets start at $61. Children under five are free when accompanied by an adult ticket holder. Locals enjoy a 15% discount using this code:  XGV24LOCAL. The discount applies to general admission, superfan, bleacher, VIP, Owner’s Club, and Club ’95 tickets. Go to www.VisitVentura.com or www.XGgames.com for more information and purchase tickets.

Women’s BMX Park Medaled Event
X Games organizers have doubled down on their commitment to the progression of women’s sports, with the debut of Women’s BMX Park in Ventura as a medaled event. Athletes participating in the event will include several Olympians, including Team USA’s Hannah Roberts who earned silver at Tokyo 2020. “I’ve always dreamed of competing in X Games and it was never a possibility until this year,” said Roberts. “ Women and girls are bringing so much progression, creativity and energy into action sports across the board and it is exciting to see X Games continue to grow these sports for the next generation.” 

Women’s Skateboard Vert Best Trick will also make its debut this year, giving 11-year old Reese Nelson another opportunity to showcase her extensive skills. Nelson competed in the Women’s Skateboard Vert at X Games California 2023 at just 10 years, 8 months old, making her the youngest female competitor and second-youngest competitor in X Games history. Known for incredibly technical liptricks, including some never-been-done tricks, organizers believe there’s a strong possibility that she’ll bring something attendees have never seen before.

X Games Ventura 2024 Events Schedule

X Games Day 1, June 28

10:00 AM – Women’s Skateboard Park Elimination
11:15 AM – Women’s Skateboard Street Elimination
12:45 PM – Men’s Skateboard Park Elimination
2:15 PM – Men’s Skateboard Street Elimination
3:30 PM – Women’s BMX Park Final
4:45 PM – BMX Dirt Elimination
6:00 PM – Men’s Skateboard Vert Final
7:00 PM – Men’s BMX Street Final
8:10 PM – Moto X Best Whip
8:30 PM – Music Festival Day 1

X Games Day 2, June 29

10:45 AM – Women’s Skateboard Street Final
12:00 PM – Men’s Skateboard Park Final
1:15 PM – Men’s Skateboard Street Best Trick
2:00 PM – BMX Dirt Final
3:15 PM – Women’s Skateboard Street Best Trick
4:00 PM – Women’s Skateboard Vert Best Trick
5:00 PM – Men’s Skateboard Vert Best Trick
5:45 PM – Men’s BMX Park Final
7:15 PM – Moto X Best Trick
8:30 PM – Music Festival Day 2

X Games Day 3, June 30

10:00 AM – Women’s Skateboard Park Final
11:30 AM – Dave Mirra BMX Park Best Trick
12:00 PM – Men’s Skateboard Street Final
1:15 PM – Women’s Skateboard Vert Final
2:15 PM – Moto X QuarterPipe High Air
3:15 PM – BMX Dirt Best Trick
8:30 PM – Music Festival Day 3

X Games Ventura Music Schedule
X Games Ventura features three-days of live music. Friday kicks off with multi-platinum selling recording artist Wiz Khalifa, AG Club and Oxymorrons. Saturday features Grammy-nominated Kaskade, Devault, Mija and Emo Nite. Sunday closes out the weekend with Fever 333, Blame My Youth and Metalachi. All music is included in the price of admission, see below for a tentative schedule of appearances by day.

Friday, June 28
Oxymorrons – 4:15 – 4:45 PM
AG Club – 8:30 – 8:55 PM
Wiz Khalifa – 9:15 – 9:45 PM

Saturday, June 29
Emo Nite – 12:00 – 12:30 PM
Mija – 4:30 – 5:00 PM
DEVAULT – 8:15 – 8:45
Kaskade – 9:00 – 9:30 PM 

Sunday, June 30
Metalachi – 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Blame My Youth – 12:30 – 1:00 PM
Fever 333 – 3:45 – 4:30 PM 

Getting to the X Games Ventura
There will be no event parking at Seaside Park. There are, however, plenty of options for stress-free travel to and from the X Games Ventura.

Ventura Shuttle Park-and-Ride
The Ventura Shuttle offers frequent, free trips to and from the Ventura Fairgrounds: Friday, 9 am – 11:30 pm; Saturday, 9 am – 11:30 pm; and Sunday, 8 am – 6 pm. Ventura Shuttle locations: Government Center, Pacific View Mall, Oxnard High School, Harbor and Seaward and DeAnza Middle School. Go to www.visitventuraca.com or www.cityofventura.ca.gov for more information.

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
Got family or friends traveling to Ventura for the X Games? They can arrive steps from the action – the train station is even closer than some parking spaces in the fairgrounds parking lot! Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner has a special schedule in place for the X Games, with two extra daily train trips to Ventura. In anticipation of increased ridership, reservations for travelers will be required from June 28 to 30. Space is limited, so customers are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and book early to guarantee available tickets. For information and to buy tickets, visit www.pacificsurfliner.com.

Buses
Gold Coast Bus will offer buses from the park-n-ride at the Pacific View Mall (3301 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93003) to the venue during X Games weekend. Purchase for $1.50/trip on the Token Transit App or the UMO App. Tickets can only be purchased on the day of transit. Parking is free at the mall. Gold Coast service can be taken from the cities of Ventura, Oxnard, Ojai and Port Hueneme. For more information, visit www.goventura.org/vctc-transit/routes-schedules/

Visit Ventura Drone Show: A celebration of X Games Ventura 2024
Watch as 500 drones take flight! The Visit Ventura Drone Show is a free, all-ages community event happening during the week of X Games Ventura 2024. This year there will be a total of five Visit Ventura Drone Shows. The shows will be visible from the Ventura Harbor, Downtown Ventura, and the Ventura County Fairgrounds. 

Visit Ventura Drone Show: Ventura Harbor Village
Wednesday June 26, 2024 9:00PM
Best Viewing Location: Ventura Harbor’s lawn area along the waterfront

Visit Ventura Drone Show: Downtown Ventura
Thursday June 27, 2024 8:45PM
Thursday June 27, 2024 10:00PM
Best Viewing Location: Intersection of California St and Main St looking up to City Hall

Visit Ventura Drone Show: Downtown Ventura
Friday June 28, 2024 8:45PM
Saturday June 29, 2024 8:45PM
Best Viewing Location: Ventura County Fairgrounds inside the X Games

Skate Jam: X Games Ventura 2024
Don’t miss Ventura Skate Jam, Thursday, June 27, 4 pm – 8 pm in downtown Ventura. This celebration of the skateboarding community offers open skate sessions, exciting competitions, and the chance to connect with fellow enthusiasts. 

For children 10 years of age and younger, Skate and Create, a new Ventura skateboarding and art-based after-school program launching in Fall 2024, will be offering young participants an opportunity to skate in a mini skatepark and create their own custom t-shirts and skateboard decks. All skill levels are welcome, and skateboards and safety gear will be provided for those who don’t have their own.

Ventura Police officers and staff took to the streets carrying the symbolic “Flame of Hope.” Photo courtesy City of Ventura.

by Patricia Schallert

On May 28, there was excitement around the return of the “Tip-A-Cop” fundraiser, in partnership with Finney’s Craft-house, to support the remarkable athletes of Ventura County Special Olympics. The Ventura Police Department (VPD) officers joined forces with Finney’s Craft-house staff and worked as servers at 494 E. Main Street in downtown Ventura for this fantastic community event.

Sergeant Ryan Reynosa emphasized the significance of every single dollar raised during this event. “Not only did it help support the Special Olympics athletes, but it also fostered unity and acceptance within our Ventura community. With our sights set on surpassing the previous year’s total of $6,600, we were immensely grateful to Jordon Cole, the general manager of Finney’s Craft-house, along with his staff, for their unwavering support. We will continue to be immensely grateful for the dedication shown by our fellow officers.”

What made this event even more special, Finney’s Craft-house generously pledged to donate 20% of the proceeds to Ventura County Special Olympics. This incredible contribution went a long way in ensuring the success and growth of the Special Olympians from Ventura County.

During the Tip-A-Cop fundraiser, there were VPD officers, Special Olympics athletes, and Finney’s staff working hand in hand as guest servers. They collected the “tip” donations from diners, all while ensuring that the regular earnings of the servers were not affected. To make donating even more convenient, each guest received envelopes to contribute directly to the cause. This way, the impact was felt without any unintended consequences for the servers.

For Special Olympics athletes like Steve Glick, the opportunity to “meet new people” was the highlight of the Special Olympic event. Another athlete, Antonio Morales, on the other hand, while he enjoyed participating in the Social Olympics, mostly enjoyed “mingling with well-known individuals.” “The famous people,” he said who attended the Special Olympic Games. And let’s not forget Ian Eaton, who eagerly awaited the torch run, which kicked off on June 6.

The Ventura County Special Olympics is a truly remarkable organization that offers year-round sports training and competitions. They provide individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities a platform to develop their skills, enhance their fitness, and build meaningful friendships.

Calendars were marked and the word was spread on the “June gloom” morning of June 8. The athletes from Ventura were ready to compete at Cal State University Long Beach. Ventura County participants and spectators supported not just Ventura athletes but all of the 1,100 Special Olympians as they competed in swimming, basketball, track, gymnastics, and more. This event was a resounding success thanks to Ventura and the VPD and sponsors: Walden Surfboards, Mile 26 Running Co, the Ventura Police Officers Association, and the Ventura Police Community Foundation, for their generous support.

“Let me win…But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

Ventura Police Officers Illuminate the Path for Ventura County Special Olympics

Ventura Police officers and staff took to the streets on Thursday, June 6, carrying the symbolic “Flame of Hope” torch for the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run. Starting at the Ventura City Hall, participants embarked on a non-competitive, segmented run, passing the torch through the heart of Ventura before handing it off to the Oxnard Police Department. This relay spans 1,100 miles across Ventura County, culminating in the ceremonial lighting of the torch at the start of the Games.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run serves as the primary awareness and fundraising initiative for Special Olympics, uniting law enforcement agencies and athletes alike. In Southern California, nine legs of the run connect communities from San Luis Obispo to San Diego, symbolizing the collective commitment to inclusion and support for Special Olympics athletes. The journey concludes with the much-anticipated Special Olympics California Summer Games, held in Long Beach last weekend, celebrating the spirit of athleticism and camaraderie.

Scientific diver Geoff Shester films red gorgonian corals and California golden gorgonian coral off Santa Cruz Island. Photo from Oceana, courtesy Jason Heaton.

Oceana and Blancpain Successfully Complete First of Three Ocean Expeditions in California’s Channel Islands

Research Supports Need for Additional Protections of Ocean Biodiversity

Oceana successfully completed its first of three ocean research expeditions in partnership with prestigious Swiss watchmaker Blancpain around the Channel Islands. From April 29 through May 3, aboard the 62-foot diving vessel, “Peace”, the expedition team explored and documented the biodiversity that makes these waters globally important. The expedition is in furtherance of Oceana’s campaigns to restore ocean abundance by addressing set gillnet fishing gear that is harmful to a suite of ocean life, and Blancpain’s commitment to ocean exploration and conservation.

“Our expedition showcases the incredible diversity of marine life surrounding the Channel Islands, bolstering the area’s reputation as the “Galapagos of North America,” said expedition leader Dr. Geoff Shester, Oceana’s California campaign director and senior scientist. “The beautiful habitats and special places we documented deserve additional protections from harmful gillnets — an indiscriminate fishing method which is still allowed in state waters around these amazing islands.”

Blancpain and Oceana first began their partnership in 2020 ahead of Project Alacranes, an expedition initiated to explore the depths of two areas in the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in research that served as the basis for the Mexican government to enact the largest Natural Protected Area in the region. The success of this expedition led to the natural decision to continue the partnership between Oceana and Blancpain, as preparations to explore the Channel Islands were underway.

Over the five-day expedition, the team successfully accomplished the following:

• Conducted visual scuba diving surveys to quantify and identify fish and invertebrate species and habitats — including gorgonian corals and kelp forests — at nine locations providing a glimpse into the biodiversity at risk. Oceana divers counted 830 fish, 1,837 mobile invertebrates (e.g., crabs, sea stars, lobsters), 1,156 large seaweeds (e.g. giant kelp), and 136 large gorgonian corals on 14 transects.
• Collected water samples at 18 sites (nine shallow water samples collected via scuba and nine deep water samples collected via a Niskin bottle) for environmental (e)DNA analysis. The samples will be analyzed in a lab for DNA sequencing, which will allow us to identify virtually all ocean life (all plants, animals, and fungi) inhabiting and traversing these waters. By analyzing the DNA “footprint” left behind in the water column, they will get a comprehensive view of the area’s biodiversity at a range of depths.
• Used state-of-the-art low-light cameras to capture high-resolution images and videos of unique, rare, and unusual species and habitats in need of protection.
• Demonstrated the use of a compact Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Geneinno to document cold water corals at 100 feet depth off Santa Barbara Island.
• Captured 360-degree video footage at all nine scuba diving locations to provide an interactive, immersive experience of being in the middle of a giant kelp forest. Some examples of the 360-degree footage can be viewed here. [Tips: on a desktop PC, use the mouse to pan and look around. On a mobile device, either use your finger to pan and look around or directly point the device to where you want to look. For a full 360 immersive experience, use VR goggles or download the Google Cardboard app from the Apple Store or Android Play Store or use Google carboard glasses to navigate as if immersed in the water seeing the environment firsthand].
• Collected water samples at mid-water depths (from 60 meters/196 feet to over 100 meters/328 feet) to detect and quantify potential microplastics in the water column.
• Piloted and successfully demonstrated that a hybrid underwater vehicle FUSION — an underwater robot manufactured by Strategic Robotic Systems used to support Department of Defense missions globally — can produce high resolution side-scan sonar maps of rocky reefs and identify precise GPS locations of lost fishing gear. The expedition demonstrated the promise of this technology to provide meaningful intelligence for ocean conservation.

The groups plan to utilize the imagery and scientific information gathered in support of protecting ocean biodiversity by reducing entanglement of ocean animals—including whales, sea lions, sharks, and other fish — in set gillnet fishing gear. These fishing nets used to target California halibut and white seabass can be 20 football fields long and are known for their high bycatch rates and adverse wildlife impacts. Despite action by California voters more than 30 years ago, set gillnets are still allowed in federal waters (3-200 miles from shore) off Southern California’s mainland, offshore banks, and in state waters around California’s Channel Islands. Oceana is urging the California Fish and Game Commission and the state legislature to continue working to reduce bycatch in the set gillnet fishery.

To learn more about ocean biodiversity at risk from set gillnets visit www.oceana.org/KeepCAOceansThriving

Sand dollars off Santa Cruz Island. Photo from Oceana/Danny Ocampo.