Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System

08/28/2026

🌎 The May-June 2026 California Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Bulletin is now available!

👇 Read a summary below, or access the full report 🔗 https://sccoos.org/california-hab-bulletin/may-june-2026/

SUMMARY: May and June 2026 were marked by increased Pseudo-nitzschia activity in Central California, consistent with C-HARM predictions of high probabilities of Pseudo-nitzschia abundance and domoic acid (DA) concentrations exceeding alert thresholds in that region. Cal Poly Pier and Santa Cruz Wharf emerged as the two regional hotspots.

Southern California stations recorded elevated but comparatively modest Pseudo-nitzschia activity through much of May before activity declined at most sites through June. Stearns Wharf recorded a particularly intense early May peak. Real-time imaging data broadly corroborated model observations across the period and provided an important window into Northern California activity at Trinidad Pier, where Pseudo-nitzschia was detected at bloom levels in mid-June, consistent with model predictions for that region.

Alexandrium remained largely rare or undetected statewide, with low but persistent detections at Cal Poly Pier through May and June.

🐟 Fisheries Impacts: Elevated levels of DA detected in commercially harvested Pacific sardines and Northern anchovies from Central California waters in mid-June prompted state health agencies to recommend commercial fisheries restrictions implemented by CDFW, and CDPH to issue a consumption advisory for the recreational fisheries on 6/26.

🦭 Animal Impacts: A total of 19 marine mammal strandings with suspected DA exposure were reported across May and June, with Central California accounting for the majority of cases. Two humpback whales stranded on Monterey Bay beaches during this period, with very high DA levels detected in biological samples.

More information available in the full report: https://sccoos.org/california-hab-bulletin/may-june-2026/



Scripps Institution of Oceanography
University of Southern California
UCLA
Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP)
UC Santa Barbara
Bodega Marine Laboratory - UC Davis
MBARI
UC Santa Cruz
California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly)
U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System

08/18/2026

07/20/2026

🌟 Join us in celebrating our Director, Clarissa Anderson, Ph.D., who was nominated as the STEM Pioneer for the San Diego Magazine's Celebrating Women awards!

💙 Vote for Clarissa to help us spread the word about all the fantastic work she does for the STEM and ocean observing communities: https://cw.sdmag.com/stem/stem-pioneer

📅 Voting closes July 26!

Scripps Institution of Oceanography

07/15/2026

🌊 Now in its seventh decade, the Eastern Pacific Ocean Conference- EPOC has long served as a catalyst for oceanographic research off the west coast of North America.

🌟 Don't miss out on the opportunity to participate in EPOC 2026 held September 16-19, 2026 in Mt. Hood, OR. Extended abstract deadline: Friday, July 17 🌟

💙 This year's conference will feature a scientific session co-chaired by the directors of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System IOOS) West Coast Regional Associations: Clarissa Anderson (SCCOOS Director), Henry Ruhl (CeNCOOS - Central & Northern California Ocean Observing System Director), and Jan Newton (NANOOS Director).

📅 Abstracts due: July 17
📅 Registration due: August 17

🔗 More info: EasternPacificOceanConference.org

06/26/2026

🚨 As we wrap up our celebration of Ocean Data Day this week, we are highlighting an emerging data trend of record-breaking ocean temperature anomalies detected across California.

🌡️ SCCOOS Scientist Dan Rudnick and the California Underwater Glider Network based at Scripps Institution of Oceanography are observing the highest temperature anomalies in 20 years on Line 80 off Point Conception and Line 66.7 off Monterey Bay, with anomalies continuing to climb on Line 90 off Dana Point.

📊 These recent patterns show us the importance of both real-time and long-term ocean data. The rising ocean temperatures will have far-reaching impacts, from weather patterns, fisheries, aquaculture, coastal planning, and many more.

🌊 Keep an eye on our page as we continue to monitor these data, how they might change with the approaching El Niño, and their influence on the coastal ocean environment.

To learn more about Dan and the California Underwater Glider Network, check out the SCCOOS Research Spotlight: https://t.e2ma.net/webview/d8alhl/6463030a141de001fd3f5161c0f2dc60

To view long-term or real-time data, view the SCCOOS & CeNCOOS data portal: https://data.caloos.org/



U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System

06/25/2026

Today, we are joining the IOOS Association and IOOS Regional Associations to celebrate the value of ocean data. We deliver data every day that supports the economy, informs life-saving decisions, protects lives and property, and more. How does our data work for you? https://ioos.noaa.gov/data/spotlight-on-ocean-data/

06/25/2026

🎉 Ocean Data Day is here! 🎉

🌊 Throughout the day we will be sharing examples of the ways that SCCOOS and IOOS data are used to keep our coastal economy strong and our coastal communities safe.

💙 There are so many ways our data is used to help our coasts, which one is most important to you?

🚢 Shipping and Safe Port Operations
🛢️ Oil Spill Response and Recovery
🦭 Harmful Algal Bloom Detection & Prediction
🦈 Shark Tracking
🛟 U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue
🏄🏾‍♀️ Beachgoer Safety

And many more! How do you use IOOS Data?



Scripps Institution of Oceanography
U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System
Alaska Ocean Observing System
CeNCOOS
CARICOOS.org
GCOOS
Great Lakes Observing System
Maracoos - Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System
NANOOS
NERACOOS
PacIOOS
SECOORA

06/24/2026

🌊 As we celebrate Ocean Data Day, we are pleased to release the latest edition of the California Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Bulletin!

🌏 A collaboration between SCCOOS and Central & Northern California Ocean Observing System (CeNCOOS), our HAB Bulletin is one of our most sought-after data resources to understand the state of HAB observing and impacts along the California coast.

📊 The bi-monthly bulletin provides a comprehensive summary of model predictions, weekly manual plankton samples, continuous autonomous plankton imaging, marine mammal stranding data, and HAB-related seafood advisories from throughout California.

🐟 These data represent a critical resource for monitoring and predicting HABs and in our region, helping to mitigate HAB impacts on California's fisheries, seafood safety, and tourism.

🌟 View the March-April 2026 HAB Bulletin: https://sccoos.org/california-hab-bulletin/california-hab-bulletin-march-april-2026/
✉️ Sign up to receive the latest CA HAB Bulletins via email: bit.ly/CAHAB

💙 Keep an eye on our page for more Ocean Data Day information and future HAB Bulletins!



🎉 Thank you to our California HAB monitoring partners, this Ocean Data Day we celebrate you!
CeNCOOS
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
University of Southern California
UCLA
Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP)
UC Santa Barbara
Bodega Marine Laboratory - UC Davis
MBARI
UC Santa Cruz
California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly)
U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System

06/22/2026

🎉 We are celebrating Ocean Data Day this week, and what better way than to join our experts from across the West Coast TOMORROW for NOAA's West Watch webinar!

🌟 Register for the June 23rd 11AM PST Webinar: bit.ly/WestWatch 🌟

🌈 This monthly series brings together ocean and atmosphere observing experts from across the region to highlight ongoing and emerging oceanic and atmospheric conditions, impacts, and data trends.

🌊 These combined monthly expert reports help us better understand region-wide patterns and allow coastal managers to prepare for any impacts affecting coastal safety, research or our economy.

⭐ Featured presenters include SCCOOS Director Clarissa Anderson, Ph.D., Central & Northern California Ocean Observing System (CeNCOOS) Director Henry Ruhl, Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS) Director Jan Newton, and Western Regional Climate Center Climatologist Dan McEvoy.

🙌 Join us to learn about conditions across the west including the approaching El Niño, the state of Harmful Algal Blooms along the West Coast, drought/precipitation status, and much more!

Keep an eye on our page for more Ocean Data Day information and future West Watch webinars!



Scripps Institution of Oceanography
MBARI
University of Washington
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
NOAA Coastal Ocean Science
U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System

06/18/2026

🎥 This week SCCOOS was honored to attend a special screening of the award-winning documentary Out of Plain Sight at the San Diego Natural History Museum.

🌏 From LA Times and investigative journalist Rosanna Xia, the film depicts the historical and ongoing environmental crisis of DDT pollution in Southern California and its far-reaching consequences for animal and human life. This topic is of special interest to SCCOOS, as our organization helps coordinate the federally-funded research that is investigating this issue.

💙 As we learn in the film, there is still much to learn to understand the scope of pollution and impact of DDT, "the original forever chemical". SCCOOS is proud to play a part in helping to aid in the investigation.

🌟 Don't miss the chance to see this incredible film: https://www.outofplainsight.com/ and keep an eye on our page as we develop a public-facing database to showcase the findings from ongoing DDT research projects.