University of Southern California Sea Grant

10/08/2026

Our marine debris specialist, Sydney Rilum, recently joined L.A. River Expeditions as a guest expert for a two-mile kayak tour through the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Zone. 🛶

As participants paddled upstream, they saw litter and debris in and along the river while learning about the connection between the LA River and the Pacific Ocean, and the sources, impacts, challenges, and solutions associated with marine debris.

We all live in a watershed, which means we can all play a role in protecting it. Put that knowledge into action by joining USC Sea Grant and Friends of the Los Angeles River for the Great LA River CleanUp this Saturday:

📅 Saturday, October 10
⏰ 9–11 a.m.
📍 Compton Creek

Come help remove litter, restore habitat, improve water quality, and protect the wildlife that depends on the river. Register to participate at https://support.folar.org/event/the-great-river-cleanup-2026-compton-creek/e840888

10/01/2026

As Southern California prepares for the possibility of a powerful El Niño winter, generous support from The Seaver Institute will enable USC Sea Grant to examine how one of our coast’s first lines of defense holds up: its beaches. 🌊

In partnership with the USC Wrigley Institute, USC Sea Grant will track how protective beach berms respond to intense waves, elevated water levels, and repeated storms. The research aims to improve understanding of how beaches respond during extreme storms and strengthen future coastal planning and protection efforts.

Read more about the project at https://dornsife.usc.edu/uscseagrant/2026/09/28/usc-sea-grant-receives-funds-to-track-southern-californias-coastal-defenses-during-el-nino/

📷 Caption: Flood-protection berms being constructed near Balboa Pier in Newport Beach, California, ahead of swells generated by hurricanes Polo and Odalys during the weekend of September 25, 2026.

09/30/2026

Where does pollution go when it rains in Los Angeles? 🌧️🌊

Learn about how stormwater flows through the Los Angeles River watershed from Jake Tanda, our recent intern with the USC Wrigley Institute's 2026 Summer Environmental Communications Internship.

Across much of the highly urbanized city of Los Angeles, rainwater flows over streets and into storm drains and waterways, including the LA River, before eventually reaching the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, it can pick up litter, oil, bacteria, and other pollutants.

The good news? We can all help protect our shared watershed by reducing waste, properly disposing of pollutants, and keeping our streets and waterways clean. Small actions upstream can make a big difference downstream.💧

Learn more by watching Jake's video: https://dornsife.usc.edu/uscseagrant/2026/09/30/what-is-a-watershed/

USC Dornsife The Urban Ocean Program

09/25/2026

Registration is now open for the Friends of the Los Angeles River's 36th Annual Great LA River Cleanup next month!

Join USC Sea Grant at our hosted cleanup during the event:

📍Compton Creek site
🗓️ Saturday, October 10th
⏰ 9:00–11:00am

Help make an impact at one of the largest urban river cleanups in the country by removing litter, restoring habitat, improving water quality, and protecting the wildlife that depend on the river.

Registration is free to attend. Sign up today at https://support.folar.org/event/the-great-river-cleanup-2026-compton-creek/e840888

09/24/2026

It’s Aquaculture Week!🌊🐟🌿

So, what exactly is aquaculture?

If you’re not sure, you’re not alone. A recent USC Sea Grant survey found that many people across the Pacific U.S. aren’t very familiar with it. Simply put, aquaculture is the farming of fish, shellfish, seaweed, and other aquatic organisms. It can support safe seafood production, reduce pressure on wild populations, and support conservation and restoration efforts.

This summer, USC student Jadon Frank worked to close this knowledge gap through the USC Wrigley Institute's Summer Environmental Communications Internship. Mentored by USC Sea Grant, he created educational resources that highlight the impact of aquaculture projects around Los Angeles.

Read about Jadon’s experience and learn about the innovative aquaculture work happening across Los Angeles: https://dornsife.usc.edu/wrigley/2026/09/18/what-is-aquaculture-anyway/



📷 Credit: Nick Neumann, USC Wrigley Institute

08/20/2026

USC Sea Grant had a blast at Friends of the LA River’s 5th Annual RiverFest this past weekend at Los Angeles State Historic Park! 🌊

We hosted an interactive watershed demo where community members explored firsthand how pollutants travel through the LA River and learned simple ways they can help reduce pollution and keep our river and ocean clean.

A big thanks to Friends of the Los Angeles River for bringing our community together to celebrate and care for the LA River! We’re excited to join them again for the Great LA River Cleanup this October. Stay tuned for more details on how you can get involved!

07/28/2026

We're excited to share the results of this Sea Grant-funded initiative involving our regional aquarium partner, Aquarium of the Pacific!

Over the past three years, this collaborative project has taken on one of marine biology's biggest challenges: breeding and raising marine fish species to reduce the need to source display animals from the wild. Together, the Aquarium of the Pacific and partner institutions across the country have successfully bred more than 20 marine finfish species, including several that have been bred in human care for the first time.

Check out the new interactive StoryMap for a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to sustainably source animals and preserve the wild ocean at https://f.mtr.cool/ljbzgvmxdj

06/04/2026

We are excited to announce the release of the "California Ocean Litter Prevention Strategy Accomplishments Report: January 2018 – August 2025," which shares important new insights into California’s progress in reducing ocean litter.

Created in partnership with the California Ocean Protection Council, USC Sea Grant, California Sea Grant, and NOAA's Marine Debris Program, the report highlights the collaborative efforts of California agencies and stakeholders to reduce ocean litter and plastic pollution from source to sea, as outlined in the 2018 California Ocean Litter Prevention Strategy.

Check out the report below to learn more!

06/02/2026

Join our team! 📣

USC Sea Grant is hiring an Academic Program Specialist to support our program’s research coordination efforts. The role focuses on managing competitive research and fellowship programs, as well as providing programmatic and reporting support.

Learn more and apply: https://usccareers.usc.edu/job/los-angeles/academic-program-specialist/1209/95850777152

04/30/2026

USC Sea Grant and AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles are excited to announce a new partnership! Our programs are joining forces to drive innovation, expand workforce opportunities, and strengthen our coastal communities at the intersection of ports, marine transportation, and the blue economy.

Based at the nation’s busiest port complexes, this new collaboration merges research, training, and outreach to connect science and industry and build a more resilient and sustainable coastal economy for Los Angeles and California.

Read more about our new partnership at our joint press release: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260430269516/en/AltaSea-USC-Sea-Grant-Join-Forces-to-Shape-the-Future-of-Ports-and-Marine-Transportation