Science for a Resilient Ocean
Collaborative science and long-term monitoring supporting marine wildlife conservation and resilient coastal ecosystems in northern and central California.
Questions?
Contact our team
Connecting science to action.
Our team works with scientists and resource managers to understand how the ocean is changing and what to do about it. By combining decades of monitoring with applied research, we inform policies and practices that protect marine ecosystems and support the people who depend on them.
What We Do
ACCESS members collaborate on integrated, multidisciplinary research to monitor marine wildlife and understand how physical and biological ocean processes shape their distribution and abundance. Our findings support managers, policymakers, and conservation partners in responding to environmental change and human impacts, helping strengthen public support for marine conservation.
Tracking Ocean Climate
ACCESS partners have been monitoring ocean climate to better understand seasonal patterns throughout the oceanographic year and to evaluate how marine ecosystems respond to large, basin-scale climate shifts over time. These ongoing research cruises began in 2004 and take place from April through October aboard the NOAA National Marine Sanctuary research vessel Fulmar. To date, sixty-six (66) cruises have been conducted, providing valuable long-term data to support scientific analysis and informed management decisions.
Solving Ocean Problems
ACCESS works closely with resource managers, policy-makers, and conservation partners to recommend practical solutions to critical ocean challenges and to strengthen public support for marine conservation. Through long-term research and data analysis, ACCESS focuses on key conservation and management priorities, including reducing whale ship strikes. ACCESS data has been used to identify important whale habitats within Cordell Bank and Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuaries, helping to inform protective measures and responsible maritime practices.
Training Ocean Stewards
ACCESS is committed to developing the next generation of ocean scientists and environmental leaders through hands-on education and research opportunities. Each year, the program hosts a NOAA Teacher-at-Sea, supports graduate students with field and data research projects, and offers laboratory internships to recent college graduates pursuing careers in marine science. These initiatives provide educators and students with direct experience in marine research and conservation. For additional information about the Teacher-at-Sea program, please contact ACCESS.
Fieldwork in Action: The Team and Our Work
CalOOS Data Portal
Explore oceanographic, nutrient, ocean acidification (OA), zooplankton, seabird, and marine mammal data from ACCESS surveys through the California Ocean Observing Systems (CeNCOOS/CalOOS) Data Portal. These publicly available datasets are integrated with regional observations to support research, management, and decision-making.
Users can visualize, explore, and download data layers spanning physical, chemical, and biological conditions across the California Current ecosystem. For additional information, please contact Dr. Jaime Jahncke.
Videos
ACCESS: An Overview
Jan Roletto, Research Coordinator of Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, provides a quick overview of ACCESS, highlighting research to track ocean climate, decrease whale ship strikes and mentor graduate students.
THE OCEAN: Sampling Water Properties
Carina Fish, former graduate student at UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab, explains how and why we sample water properties of the ocean.
THE PREY: Sampling Zooplankton in the Ocean
Meredith Elliott, Principal Marine Scientist with Point Blue Conservation Science, explains how and why we sample zooplankton in the ocean.
THE PREDATORS: Counting Seabirds and Whales
Kirsten Lindquist, Conservation Science Program Manager at Greater Farallones Association, explains how and why we monitor seabirds and whales at sea.
Download
Ocean Climate Report
Explore the latest insights from the Ocean Climate Indicators Report 2024—a comprehensive look at the changing conditions across the California Current. This report brings together long-term data on ocean temperature, productivity, and ecosystem response to highlight emerging trends and inform management decisions. It’s a valuable snapshot of where the system stands today and where it may be headed.
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ACCESS Overview (2-Pager)
Download and share our ACCESS 2-pager for a clear overview of our work across the California Current. It highlights our long-term monitoring, partnerships with national marine sanctuaries, and how our science supports management decisions and ocean resilience.
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