Conservation and Restoration

Conservation Header

Conservation And Restoration

From rebuilding habitats to restoring endangered species, our researchers are working to protect and revive California’s coastal ecosystems. Conservation science at the Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute blends ecological research with hands-on restoration, tackling habitat loss, fisheries management, and species recovery. Through partnerships and long-term monitoring, these efforts support healthier oceans for the future.

A panel of three images showing a white abalone, kelp, and salmon

Research Programs

Among our current research programs and projects, we are working to restore white abalone populations, rebuilding kelp ecosystems, and working with fishers through the California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program to support sustainable marine resources.

California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program (CCFRP)

Marine Invertebrate Fisheries and Conservation

White Abalone Conservation

Kelp Restoration

Back to Research Programs

Restoration In Action:

Join the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory's Aquatic Resources Group to see how tiny Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida) - the only oyster species native to the west coast of the US - are prepared for outplanting into the ocean. Video courtesy of Sam Briggs.

Featured Story:

Two illustrated panels. On the left side, a barren seafloor with just a few pieces of bull kelp. On the right side is a vibrant seafloor with a forest of kelp, plentiful rockfish, and a diverse range of other marine life.

What Rockfish Can Tell Us About Pollution

The California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program (CCFRP) is a partnership that brings together marine researchers, management agencies, and local fishers.