Visionary in Marine Sciences
Ocean health and coastal sustainability are critical national and international issues, and marine scientists at UC Santa Cruz are leaders in addressing these challenges. UCSC has long been on the forefront of marine science research and education. With state-of-the-art facilities and internationally recognized faculty and researchers, the campus's Institute of Marine Sciences supports scientists in a wide range of disciplines. Their investigations range from microscopic plankton to massive blue whales, from the depths of the seafloor to the coastline, and from frigid polar waters to tropical coral reefs. This diversity reflects the many ways in which the oceans affect the global environment and the lives of people, in California and around the world. Through partnerships with state and federal agencies, environmental policy groups, and other organizations studying marine and coastal issues, UCSC has become a major hub for research, training, and outreach activities in marine science and conservation.
Latest news
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UCSC grad students win funding for research on salmon and coastal resilience
California Sea Grant has awarded funding to two UC Santa Cruz graduate students for research projects involving restoration of salmon populations and management strategies for resilient coastal communities.
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Tracking data used to identify biodiversity hot spots in Southern Ocean ecosystems
An international team of scientists used electronic tracking data from birds and marine mammals to identify areas of ecological significance in the waters around Antarctica.
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Research shows mangrove conservation can pay for itself in flood protection
A new global study shows that mangroves provide billions of dollars worth of flood risk reduction benefits every year.
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Grad student Melissa Cronin wins Seafood Sustainability Contest
The $45,000 prize will support Cronin’s efforts to to reduce the mortality of manta rays and devil rays incidentally caught during tuna fishing.
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Researchers get a ‘whale’s-eye view’ of Antarctic sea ice
Cameras attached to a rare species of Antarctic whale are giving scientists an unprecedented view of how the whales survive in their sea ice habitat.
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Study connects marine heat wave with spike in whale entanglements
Entanglements of humpback whales in fishing gear along the U.S. West Coast increased dramatically during the 2014 to 2016 marine heat wave known as the ‘warm blob’.
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California’s sea otter population could triple by recolonizing San Francisco Bay
A new study highlights the importance of estuaries as prime habitat for the endangered southern sea otter.
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Island 'soundscapes' show potential for evaluating recovery of nesting seabirds
Conservation biologists are taking a holistic approach to acoustic monitoring for evaluating the effectiveness of restoration efforts.
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UC Santa Cruz researchers funded to develop new technology for monitoring toxic algae
As the frequency and severity of harmful algal blooms increases along the California coast, ocean scientist Raphael Kudela is working to improve the technology for monitoring them.
