New LAEDC Report Underscores Importance of AltaSea’s Efforts to Grow the Blue Economy

(Los Angeles, Calif.) – Ocean economy activities, also known as the blue economy, in L.A. County are poised to grow exponentially as heightened awareness of the risks posed by climate change, pol­lution, and aquatic ecosystem degradation are driv­ing increased attention to, and investment in, more sustainable ocean-based industries, but industry and education leaders have to focus on workforce development and closing curriculum gaps in order to take full advantage of that growth said a report, “The Blue Economy in Los Angeles County: Charting A Course Forward,” authored by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) and Blue Economy & Climate Action Pathways (BECAP). The report, issued March 26 in conjunction with the 2025 BECAP Summit at UCLA Luskin Conference Center, said that in 2021 (the most recent year avail­able), the ocean economy in L.A. County provided 105,074 jobs across 3,896 establishments and contrib­uted over $14 billion to county real GDP.

“By recognizing the significance of the blue economy, we continue to harness our greatest assets: our ocean and untapped talent,” said Terry Tamminen, the President/CEO of AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles and former CalEPA Secretary. “The Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation/BECAP report reinforces what we are working every day on at AltaSea – ocean-based industries that have the potential to outperform the growth of the global economy as a whole, both in terms of value added and employment. To power these new jobs, it is incumbent upon us to address existing curriculum gaps and provide Southern California students with the sector-specific knowledge and skills training demanded by the innovative blue economy employers that will drive this economy in the coming decades. Measuring and reporting on the blue economy by the LAEDC provides us a valuable roadmap and tool to accomplish greater job creation in Los Angeles and beyond.”

The 64-page report (available HERE) follows up on LAEDC’s initial 2019 report on the blue economy done in collaboration with AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles. The previous and current reports highlight efforts by organizations like AltaSea to take advantage of this burgeoning blue economy by setting the groundwork for new and innovative learning opportunities, workforce development and new curriculum to make sure students have all the tools and resources necessary to succeed in the blue economy.

Los Angeles’ emerging yet rapidly growing blue economy benefits from unparalleled regional assets, including the largest port complex in the western hemisphere, home to AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles – a unique 35-acre public-private ocean institute that brings together the best and brightest pioneers and organizations in science, business, and education.

The region also benefits from a variety of new educational programs, including the Los Angeles County Office of Education’s new Marine Science Floating Laboratory where students participate in hands-on, marine-science learning, including water visibility testing and studying bottom sediment and fish morphology. In addition, new high school programs, such as the career technical education program at Port of Los Angeles High School, are generating interest in marine issues; while Santa Monica College’s Aquaculture certificate program represents the first explicitly blue economy-related community college-level program in the region.

“The ocean is our future LA must lead,” said Stephen Cheung, President & CEO of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC). “Los Angeles must be at the forefront, pioneering innovation and leadership in the blue economy and climate action pathways. Together, we can harness the ocean’s potential responsibly and ensure a sustainable future for all.”

The LAEDC report urged industry, government and education leaders to provide a larger range of blue economy workforce development programming, centering efforts in workforce development, and deepen­ing partnerships among educational institutions and with government and industry partners.

To that end, the BECAP Consortium, an alliance of 15 Los Angeles community colleges, AltaSea and the LAEDC, is developing a novel work­force training and placement program to prepare students for the next generation of ocean economy occupations including post-secondary certificate and degree programs in blue economy industries, including renewable energy and wave energy technologies.

“The sustainable use and careful stewardship of the ocean will allow us to tackle the planet’s greatest challenges of food security, clean energy and climate resiliency; but the success of our region—both environmentally and economically—depends on how we invest in education and workforce development in this emerging blue economy,” said Los Angeles City Councilmember Tim McOsker who represents the Fifteenth Council District, which includes AltaSea. “We must continue to ensure that Los Angeles leads the way in education, innovation and job creation to expand the sustainable use of the ocean to improve lives and sustain a healthy future for our planet.” Prior to being elected to the Los Angeles City Council, McOsker was President/CEO of AltaSea when the first LAEDC report on the blue economy was released.

“Los Angeles County’s ocean economy will continue to develop to meet new economic and policy demands,” the LAEDC report concluded. “However, the emergence of more sustainable marine industries will depend in part on the workforce development ecosystem’s ability to collaborate and build educational and experiential pathways for all Angelenos who wish to participate in the blue economy.”