Aug 2026 Edition
A monthly round-up of news and trends important to the AltaSea community.
AltaSea Community Spotlight
Zimmern will be joined by a roster of acclaimed chefs, including Dustin Trani, owner and chef of Trani’s Dockside Station, and Chris Cosentino, an award-winning chef, author, and sustainability advocate known for advancing responsible sourcing and reducing food waste.
Read More–>
The concept of leveraging underutilized port assets to drive innovation and sustainability is gaining traction globally. This paper examines AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, a nonprofit organization operating a 35 acre (14 ha) ocean innovation campus located on a historic pier in the Los Angeles Outer Harbor.
Knatz, G. (2026). AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles: A Business Model to Sustain the Operations of a Blue Economy Nonprofit. Blue Papers.
Read More–>
The women standing waist-deep in the warm waters of Zanzibar harvesting seaweed—not simply as a crop, but as a pathway to independence, stronger families, and climate resilience.
Read More–>
For decades, the ocean economy was measured in ships, fish, ports, tourism and offshore resources. Today, the blue economy asks a more ambitious question: how can the sea generate prosperity without eroding the ecosystems that make that prosperity possible?
Read More–>
The startup, California-based Captura, was born in 2021. It was one of hundreds globally, all launching into a newfound race to prove a better, faster, cheaper method of CO2 removal (CDR).
Read More–>
California’s kelp forests are some of the world’s most abundant ecosystems, providing food and habitat to over 700 species, serving as the foundation for the state’s commercial fisheries, protecting coastlines from erosion, and sequestering carbon from the atmosphere.
Read More–>
Secure your tickets today!
Join us for an unforgettable evening where world-class cuisine meets ocean innovation at AltaSea’s annual Blue Hour gala.
This year’s event features Emmy Award–winning chef, writer, and global cultural ambassador Andrew Zimmern, who will headline the evening with a live cooking and tasting experience celebrating sustainable seafood and the future of blue foods. Joining him are acclaimed chefs Dustin J. Trani, Chris Cosentino, and 7–10 additional culinary leaders, each presenting signature bites that showcase sustainable, ocean-friendly ingredients.
Fall 2026 applications are now open!
The purpose of the internship program is to provide undergraduate students with the opportunity to explore blue economy careers by matching them with partners who have positions that align specifically with the student’s interest and/or major of study.
Applications close Aug. 28, 2026.
Program timeline Oct. 5 – Dec. 15, 2026.
Must be 18 years of age by Aug 30, 2026.
Become a member today!
AltaSea remains committed to supporting science-based solutions to climate change—solutions that both protect the oceans and benefit local communities. But we can’t do it without your support. Please make a tax-deductible donation and join UrgentSEA, our new membership campaign, today.
Welcome New Members!
Terry A | Lauren J. | Rebecca O. | Angie R | Steve R. | Steve S. | Sandy S. | Marty W.
RSVP today!
Join us for our AltaSea Open House: Charting a Legacy of the Sea — a free public event. Learn the story of Moomat Ahiko and explore the history of Tongva maritime traditions, including the cultural significance of ocean voyaging, navigation, and the enduring legacy of the Tongva people.
Global Call for Applications!
Applications are open from April 1 to August 31, 2026, with submissions accepted through the OceanLove website (www.oceanlove.news). Winners will be revealed on October 11, 2026, during the third OceanLove Innovation Awards Ceremony which will take place in AltaSea’s venue, at the harbor of Los Angeles, USA.
Further Reading
Marine Science
A coral reef, missing and presumed dead, has been found alive and well off the coast of Benin. Surveys in the 1960s, focused on identifying promising fishing areas, flagged a possible deep-water coral reef but assumed it must be dead.
Read More–>
Marine Science
Seagrasses are among the most important foundation species in coastal ecosystems, providing habitat for marine life, stabilizing sediments and helping improve water quality.
Read More–>
Sustainable and Innovative Business
Transformative $25 million investment will advance cutting-edge science and scalable solutions to protect coral reefs worldwide.
Read More–>
Sustainable and Innovative Business
A Swedish device that mimics the human heart to turn ocean swells into electricity has just cleared a hurdle that’s kept wave power sidelined for decades. CorPower Ocean’s C4 buoy has now passed the strictest safety test in the marine energy industry.
Read More–>
Education
UNESCO organized the National Forum on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Indonesia to advance sustainability through education, with a particular focus on conservation education, ocean literacy, and community-based learning approaches.