Monitoring and Synthesis to Inform Offshore Development and Marine Ecosystem Management in California: 2027 Request for Proposals
California Sea Grant funds research to monitor and analyze ecological impacts of offshore development on marine ecosystems, supporting better management of California’s coastal and ocean resources.
Funder: California Sea Grant
Due Dates: October 9, 2026: Letter of Intent deadline | November 17, 2026: Full proposal deadline
Funding Amounts: $50,000–$750,000 per project (total pool: $2.7M); up to 2.5 years duration (projects must end by November 30, 2029)
Summary: Supports applied research to improve detection and understanding of ecological changes related to offshore development and marine ecosystem management in California.
Key Information: Letter of intent required to submit full proposal; projects must benefit California.
Description
This opportunity, administered by California Sea Grant in partnership with the California Ocean Protection Council, seeks applied research projects that enhance California’s ability to detect and interpret ecological changes and disturbances within the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME) as offshore development, including ocean energy, is considered. Projects must address one or both of the following tracks:
- Track 1: Synthesis and analysis of existing monitoring data to assess the ability to detect environmental disturbances.
- Track 2: Targeted collection of new field data in areas or for taxa where monitoring is lacking or outdated.
Research should support fisheries management, protected species recovery, marine protected area management, and ecosystem assessment, focusing on key marine mammals, sea turtles, seabirds, fish, and invertebrates. Projects are expected to deliver actionable outcomes that inform management decisions and provide lasting benefits to California’s ocean and coastal resource management.
