Rising Tides in the Deep Blue Decade: Los Angeles Launches a Bold New Era for the Blue Economy Workforce

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Los Angeles is charting a bold new course into the Deep Blue Decade. Los Angeles Harbor College, in partnership with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, and a consortium of 14 colleges, announced the next wave of Blue Economy workforce development through the 3rd Annual Blue Economy & Climate Action Pathways (BECAP) Summit — a landmark collaboration shaping the workforce ecosystems of tomorrow.

Hosted at Los Angeles Harbor College (LAHC), the summit united educational and industry leaders committed to strengthening coastal resilience and building climate-driven career pathways. Among those at the helm were Dr. Luis Dorado, President of Los Angeles Harbor College; Terry Tamminen, President & Chief Executive Officer of AltaSea; and Dr. Sonya Christian, Chancellor, California Community Colleges; along with key partners from the Los Angeles Regional Consortium (LARC) and industry leaders.

“BECAP is more than a summit—it’s a movement,” said Dr. Luis Dorado. “As the tides of opportunity rise across the Blue Economy, we are preparing our students and industry professionals to navigate, innovate, and lead in a rapidly evolving ocean of possibility.”

Los Angeles City Councilmember Tim McOsker, former AltaSea CEO, reflected on the transformation taking place along the region’s industrial waterfront. “As someone who grew up in the Harbor Area, I’ve seen how much our community is shaped by the waterfront and the opportunities it creates,” said McOsker. “When we invest in education, we are investing in our people and in the future of our coastal communities. Programs like BECAP help ensure that opportunity reaches our local students, preparing them for good jobs in the Blue Economy while also protecting the environment that our communities depend on.”

California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian highlighted how the initiative aligns with Vision 2030, a roadmap for student-focused and future-focused education. “BECAP exemplifies how our system is leading through collaboration,” said Chancellor Christian. “We are building workforce ecosystems that respond to a rapidly shifting economy and the rise of climate-focused industries, opening pathways for our students in aquaculture, offshore energy, and clean shipping, and advancing a more sustainable future.”

The numbers underscore the power of the Blue Economy wave. According to the OECD, ocean-based industries could more than double their contribution to global value added by 2030, exceeding $3 trillion. In Los Angeles County alone, blue-sector industries employ over 100,000 workers and generate more than $13 billion in annual output, according to LAEDC.

Fueled by a $1.1 million grant from the Los Angeles Regional Consortium, BECAP is investing in curriculum development, faculty training, and innovative programs spanning regenerative aquaculture, ocean renewable energy, blue tech, and ecosystem restoration—creating seamless “College-to-Career” pathways that flow directly into ocean-related industries.

For AltaSea, the world’s largest ocean innovation campus, the partnership underscores a shared mission to align industry growth with environmental stewardship. “The Deep Blue Decade calls for deep collaboration,” said AltaSea CEO Terry Tamminen. “BECAP is lighting the way—demonstrating how education, science, and business can come together to build resilient coastal economies that benefit everyone.”

As the Deep Blue Decade unfolds, Los Angeles stands at the water’s edge of a generational transformation—one where education, innovation, and climate action converge to lift communities, create good jobs, and preserve the world’s shared ocean future.

For More Information: BECAP Summit Website

Editor’s Note: A photo of summit participants can be found here. Video can be found here.

About California Community Colleges

The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 116 colleges serving 2.2 million students per year. California community colleges provide career education and workforce training; guaranteed transfer to four-year universities; and degree and certificate pathways. As the state’s engine for social and economic mobility, the California Community Colleges supports Vision 2030, a strategic plan designed to serve our students, our communities, and our planet. For more information, please visit the California Community Colleges website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).

About AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles

AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, located on 35 acres at North America’s leading seaport by both container volume and cargo value, is an ocean technology campus that has become the hub for marine science, research, and education. AltaSea has 27 tenants exclusively focused on ocean innovation and research collaborations with numerous colleges and universities, including USC and UCLA – all finding solutions to climate change through the ocean. AltaSea is dedicated to accelerating scientific collaboration, advancing an emerging blue economy through business innovation and job creation, and inspiring the next generation, all for a more sustainable, just, and equitable world.