Outreach

This draft report describes a statewide strategy and pilot program for monitoring macro- and microplastics in California’s aquatic environments. Strategies and monitoring frameworks for microplastics (smaller than 5 mm) and macroplastics (trash composed of plastic, larger than 5 mm) are separate due to different monitoring information needs, sampling methods, and groups engaged in monitoring.

The San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) and California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) are seeking public comment on the Strategy from February 9 to March 11, 2026.

2024 - Initial Outreach - March - April, 2024

2026 - Public Release of the Strategy & Plan
 

Desired Stakeholder Input

Webinars for public comment on the draft Statewide Plastics Monitoring Strategy and Planning Framework:

During this webinar, the San Francisco Estuary Institute and California Ocean Protection Council will present the strategy, solicit verbal comment on the strategy, and provide resources for written comment.

Register for the webinar:

Webinar  Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

This meeting will be recorded and made available to the public as a recording.

Provide Feedback:

Respond to the survey (This form is now closed.)

Have further thoughts? Contact us at [email protected].

Purpose and Goals for Community Engagement

The purpose of early public engagement in the development of the Monitoring Strategy is multifaceted and includes the following objectives:  

• Increase public awareness and education on the challenges and impacts of plastics in state waters.
• Provide information on the need for, and role of, a statewide Monitoring Strategy.
• Present an opportunity to help shape a statewide monitoring program based on community priorities, concerns, and resources.
• Specifically target and ensure outreach to underserved, underrepresented, and/or disadvantaged communities.
• Offer information on existing local programs or efforts that may be utilized or coordinated as part of the Monitoring Strategy.
• Provide comments on a draft Monitoring Strategy. 

Equity and Inclusion Goals

The California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) has an explicit commitment to equity as reflected in OPCs Equity Plan (October 2022). Explicit goals identified in the plan include:  

• Goal 1: Establish and implement more equitable and sustainable community engagement and funding methods to expand and enhance opportunities for ocean and coastal projects, policies, and research.
• Goal 2: Create a more inclusive workplace through creative and equitable employee recruitment and retention, building staff fluency on equity and environmental justice, and increasing internal staff capacity.
• Goal 3: Lead equitable ocean and coastal policymaking in California.
• Goal 4: Lead the state in a comprehensive approach to coastal and ocean science through intentional investments in research and monitoring that value and integrate broader knowledge sources.

To help achieve these explicit goals, all OPC engagement efforts in this plan will make deliberate efforts to identify and engage underserved, underrepresented, and/or disadvantaged communities. These efforts will include:

• Consulting with public stakeholders from these communities to identify additional strategies to facilitate participation in engagement activities.
• Potentially enlisting/contracting stakeholder(s) to assist with outreach and solicitation for participation.
• Anticipating and accommodating translation for meetings and informational materials.
• Making multiple attempts to personally engage key stakeholders (such as phone calls and emails) beyond the general notifications to the public.
• Continuous consideration of input from underserved, underrepresented, and/or disadvantaged communities.

Have thoughts not captured by the survey? Written input can be submitted by contacting us at [email protected].