Fabric of the Community / Laguna Ocean Foundation
UPFRONT PLACES | PERSPECTIVES | HAPPENINGS
Underwater Wonders
DEDICATED STEWARDS FROM THE LAGUNA OCEAN FOUNDATION HAVE WORKED TO SUSTAIN OCEAN ECOSYSTEMS FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS , AND THEIR WORK ISN ’ T DONE YET .
By TANYA A . YACINA
E stablished in 2003 by a small group of Laguna Beach residents , the Laguna Ocean Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to the maintenance and health of Laguna ’ s marine and coastal environment . Poised to celebrate its 20-year anniversary this fall , the foundation ’ s mission remains to sustain ocean ecosystems .
“ We try to ask basic key questions like , ‘ How is climate change going to affect our coasts ? How are human activities affecting our beaches , tide pools and wildlife ? What ecological and economic benefits do our marine environments provide ? What does it mean to have a living ocean ?’ ” says Rob Lee , managing director of Laguna Ocean Foundation . “ With a better understanding , we ’ ve been able to put together an integrated program that provides cost-effective , innovative and long-term solutions on education , community leadership building , conservation practices and policies , and public-private partnerships .”
According to Lee , the upcoming anniversary event will recognize the people who have contributed to the foundation ’ s purpose and success . The event will also highlight the group ’ s journey from the past and explore what ’ s needed in the next seven years to achieve the goals in the Vision 2030 report .
“ It ’ s been amazing how the city of Laguna Beach and local businesses such as The Ranch [ at Laguna Beach ] and Montage Laguna Beach resort have supported us in our growth ,” Lee says . “ We will continue to find solutions for many of the environmental and social issues that we face here and elsewhere — climate change , sea level rise , ocean acidification , pollution , microplastics , invasive species and the list goes on .”
Clockwise from top left : sea stars in local ocean waters ; releasing sea lions back into the wild at Aliso Beach ; an underwater view of tide pools at Fisherman ’ s Cove
TOP LEFT AND BOTTOM : COURTESY OF LAGUNA OCEAN FOUNDATION ; TOP RIGHT : MITCH RIDDER
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