Oceana and Blancpain Launch Third Ocean Biodiversity Expedition off Southern California
Expedition Will Highlight New Legal Protections for Ocean Life in the Channel Islands and Assess Ecosystem Health
Press Release Date: November 10, 2025
Location: Ventura, Calif.
Contact:
Ashley Blacow | email: ablacow@oceana.org | tel: 1.831.643.9220
Oceana is embarking on its final expedition in a three-part series exploring and documenting ocean biodiversity off Southern California in partnership with luxury Swiss watch manufacturer, Blancpain, and in collaboration with marine geneticist Dr. Adrian Munguia-Vega. The first two expeditions have already identified more than 13,000 unique ocean species around the Channel Islands, bolstering the need for new wildlife protections established into law last month when Governor Newsom signed AB 1056 (Steve Bennett—D, Ventura).
“Waters off the Channel Islands still hold many mysteries,” said Oceana’s Pacific Marine Scientist and expedition co-lead Caitlynn Birch. “The new state law will grant additional safeguards for ocean life, helping ensure a sustainable future for California’s ocean ecosystems and the people and wildlife who rely on them. Continued research is critical to understand the full extent of ocean biodiversity in the region, assess how these ecosystems change over time, and ensure robust wildlife protections for generations to come.”
The expedition series furthers Oceana’s campaigns to restore ocean abundance and Blancpain’s commitment to ocean exploration and preservation. The expedition team is conducting research using scuba diving surveys to document ocean biodiversity and collecting water samples for analysis in a lab to identify environmental DNA (eDNA) left behind in the water by marine plants, fish, and animals. This third expedition will expand the eDNA database in the region and explore further offshore islands.
Set gillnets—mile-long nets anchored to the seafloor to catch California halibut and white sea bass—entangle sea lions, sharks, rays, and other fish species, raising concerns about the impacts of this fishing gear to ocean biodiversity. State waters around the Channel Islands and federal waters off Southern California are the last remaining places set gillnets are allowed. By removing this gear through a phase out, AB 1056, signed into law on October 13, 2025, will protect more than 100 different ocean animals that become entangled in these nearly invisible nets. Waters will be safer for an abundance of marine life while causing minimal disruption for the fishing families who depend on them today.
Ocean waters off Southern California, however, face additional threats, including expanded offshore oil and gas production in federally managed waters. This expedition will provide critical data and information to help better understand the ecosystems that would be at risk if offshore oil and gas lease sales were to proceed.
- For more information about this expedition visit Southern California Expedition 2024 – Oceana USA
- Watch this video of scientists explaining what eDNA is, and how it works.
- A catalogue of photographs taken during the scuba diving surveys from the spring and fall 2024 expeditions can be accessed here.
- To learn more about ocean biodiversity at risk from set gillnets visit www.oceana.org/KeepCAOceansThriving
About Oceana
Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one-quarter of the world’s wild fish catch. With more than 325 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, oil and plastic pollution, and the killing of threatened species like turtles, whales, and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Visit Oceana.org to learn more.
About Blancpain
Founded in 1735 in the Swiss Jura, Blancpain is known as the world’s oldest watch brand. Loyal to its tradition of innovation and confirmed by countless horological complications invented over the years, the Manufacture is constantly pushing the boundaries of watchmaking to take this art to places where it has never been before.
Exploration and preservation of the world’s oceans is at the core to Blancpain. With its legacy of the Fifty Fathoms – the first true diver’s watch – extending over 70 years, Blancpain has become close to the explorers, photographers, scientists and environmentalists who treasure the precious underwater resource. With that affinity has come a determination to support important activities and initiatives dedicated to the oceans.
To date, Blancpain has co-financed dozens of major scientific expeditions, celebrated its role in significantly extending the surface area of marine protected areas around the world, and presented several award-winning documentary films, underwater photography exhibitions and publications. This dedication to supporting ocean exploration and preservation is called Blancpain Ocean Commitment.
