The following is a press release issued by the Noyo Center for Marine Science:
In June 2024, the Noyo Center for Marine Science marks a decade of transformative work on California’s Mendocino Coast. Initially created by the City of Fort Bragg as part of its vision for sustainable economic development, the organization has blossomed into an independent non-profit that works at the nexus of science, education, and community.
With a mission to “advance ocean conservation through education, exploration, and experience,” the Noyo Center aims to connect current and future generations with the ocean’s many wonders and challenges. In a region that has long suffered from underinvestment and over-extraction, the Noyo Center has cultivated scientific research and educational opportunities. The Center’s innovative approach connects conservation with economic growth, creating a model in which coastal communities can thrive economically while protecting ecological resources.
“Over the past decade, we’ve witnessed a remarkable transformation in our community’s relationship with the ocean,” said Sheila Semans, Executive Director of the Noyo Center. “From recovering a blue whale skeleton to pioneering regenerative aquaculture, we’ve pushed the boundaries of what a small coastal community can achieve in marine conservation. Our success is a testament to the dedication of our staff, volunteers, and the entire Mendocino community.”
The Noyo Center’s accomplishments in its first 10 years include:
- Established three key facilities: the Crow’s Nest Interpretive Center on the Fort Bragg Headlands, the Discovery Center Science Museum in downtown Fort Bragg, and the Marine Field Station in Noyo Harbor. Collectively, these sites have welcomed over 175,000 visitors.
- Implemented community science programs, including monitoring sea urchin populations, tracking our fast-vanishing sea stars, surveying for stranded marine mammals, and collecting plankton and mussel samples to detect the presence of toxins that could impact human health.
- Educated more than 20,000 children and young adults through immersive field trips, internships, classroom visits, summer camps, and an afterschool program on the Noyo River.
- Presented over 75 Science Talks, bridging the gap between cutting-edge marine research and public understanding.
- Organized volunteers to remove over 5,000 pounds of trash from our beaches.
- Launched a regenerative aquaculture program to address the kelp crisis through an abalone broodstock program, purple sea urchin ranching, and seaweed tumble culture. These efforts aim to restore our marine ecosystem while cultivating a sustainable blue economy.
- Filled an important knowledge gap by collecting data on 287 deceased marine mammals from the Mendocino Coast while contributing more than 250 specimens to the research collection at the California Academy of Sciences.
As the Noyo Center embarks on its second decade, it’s poised for even greater impact. In the coming months, the Center will break ground on a new facility on the Noyo Headlands purpose-built to restore and articulate the Center’s 73-foot blue whale skeleton. This landmark facility is the first piece of what will eventually be the Ocean Science Center, the only year-round marine research and education center along a largely inaccessible 250-mile stretch of the coast.
“I see our blue whale as a symbol of what our organization is all about,” said Executive Director Sheila Semans. “It’s a testament to what our community can achieve when we come together. As we continue moving forward on all fronts – the Ocean Science Center, regenerative aquaculture, kelp forest restoration, on and on – we are not only advancing marine research and education, we’re also building a shared sense of purpose and community.”
For more information about the Noyo Center for Marine Science, the Discovery Center, Crow’s Nest, Marine Field Station, and many programs and events, visit noyocenter.org or call 707-733-6696.
