SB 1363 Summary

• Establishes the Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Reduction Program under the Ocean Protection Council to address threats to coastal and ocean ecosystems on the West Coast.

• Directs the council to develop demonstration projects researching eelgrass habitat restoration and conservation as strategies to reduce ocean acidification and hypoxia, with focus on carbon dioxide removal and sequestration benefits.

• Authorizes the California Ocean Protection Trust Fund to expend moneys for grants or loans to public agencies, nonprofits, and private entities for projects that protect coastal habitats, improve water quality, foster sustainable fisheries, and address climate change impacts on ocean ecosystems.

• Requires consideration of carbon dioxide removal benefits and multiple cobenefits (fish and bird habitat, water quality improvement, sea level rise mitigation) in eelgrass restoration planning and implementation.

• Notes that 90 percent of California's eelgrass acreage has been destroyed since the 1850s, and protection and restoration efforts are critical for supporting fisheries, wildlife, and ocean health.