The Coastal States Organization represents the nation’s Coastal States, Territories, and Commonwealths on ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resource issues.

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Photo credit: Joseph Barrientos

The UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) took place in Nice, France, June 9-13, 2025, with the theme of, “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean.” The Conference was co-hosted by France and Costa Rica and supported the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

The conference had over 15,000 attendees, including more than 60 Heads of State and Government. According to the UN, “The conference’s outcome, known as the Nice Ocean Action Plan, is a two-part framework that comprises a political declaration and over 800 voluntary commitments by governments, scientists, UN agencies, and civil society since the previous conference.” You can read the full outcome here.

Importantly, some countries used the conference to announce new ocean conservation efforts. “I urge all countries to come forward with bold pledges,” said U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres in opening remarks on June 9. “We live in an age of turmoil, but the resolve I see here gives me hope.”

French Polynesia pledged to create the world’s largest marine protected area, an area that will include it’s entire exclusive economic zone (five million square kilometers). Spain also announced five new marine protected areas. The European Commission announced an investment of one billion Euros to support ocean conservation, science, and sustainable fishing, part of a European Ocean Pact. Nineteen additional countries signed the UN High Seas Treaty – the world’s first treaty to protect and conserve marine biodiversity in international waters adopted in 2022 – bringing the total to 50.

While the UN Ocean Conference was the main event in Nice, there were over 450 side events and nearly 100,000 visitors for the conference and side events. Importantly, in the days prior to the UN Conference, the Blue Economy and Finance Forum was held in Monaco, focusing on the role of finance in creating a sustainable blue economy. Overall, the many side events, with the UN Conference as the centerpiece, led to a very productive June for ocean policy, finance, and sustainability, discussions on the global scale.

Learn more about the conference here.

State and Territory Coastal Zone Management Programs (CZMPs) are statutorily authorized under the Coastal Zone Management Act to “preserve, protect, develop, and where possible, restore or enhance, the resources of the Nation’s coastal zone for this and succeeding generations." To accomplish this, CZMPs receive federal funding matched by state dollars. However, the Trump administration is currently proposing to eliminate federal funding for CZMPs, jeopardizing the states’ role in managing coastal resources. In response, more than a thousand small businesses, organizations, local government officials, and coastal community members across the nation are calling on Congress and the administration to fund and support these critical programs.

For the past fifty years, CZMPs have balanced competing uses of the coastal zone, including economic development, coastal resource use, and conservation, as well protecting coastal communities from the unique natural hazards they face. Through these efforts our nation’s coasts remain economic drivers, destinations for tourism and recreation, and thriving natural ecosystems.

Despite these benefits, CZMPs are facing significant cuts from the federal government. A leaked copy of the NOAA proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 shows that the administration will eliminate all funding for Coastal Management Grants. While these federal funds ($81.5 million in FY 2024) are matched dollar-for-dollar by state governments, a significant cut or complete loss of federal funding would be devastating for state programs, forcing many to scale back or terminate projects, cut funding to local partners, and forego efforts to increase community resilience to coastal hazards, such as flooding, erosion, and extreme weather events.

More than a thousand Americans from 34 coastal states and territories who recognize the value of coastal zone management programs have come together to call on the Trump administration and Congress to fund coastal programs and prioritize coastal resilience.

The signers of the statement include some of the nation's largest and most important working waterfronts, hundreds of coastal community leaders, and dozens of national organizations.

Signed statement available here.

Read the press release here.

If you would like to add your business, organization, or yourself to the list of signers, please do so here.

New York - Department of State Announces Availability of $1.5 Million in Grants for Long Island's South Shore Estuary Reserve

In celebration of World Oceans Month, the New York Department of State announced the availability of $1.5 million in funding through the South Shore Estuary Reserve Local Assistance Grants Program. The grants will help communities advance SSER priorities, including improved water quality, shoreline resiliency, habitat health, accessible water-based recreation and tourism, environmental education and economic development. “The South Shore Estuary Reserve is an ecological, recreational and economic gem and it is our ongoing responsibility to preserve and restore it,” Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said. Funding under the program is available to municipalities, not-for-profits and academic institutions for projects such as design and engineering for coastal resilience projects, with an emphasis on natural and nature-based approaches; stormwater and marine debris management; design and engineering for public access for recreational activities like kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, and other water-based recreation. Read more here.

Invasive Crabs Have Taken Over New England. One Solution? Eat them.

European green crabs originally hail from the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the southwestern Baltic Sea. As omnivores, scavengers and cannibals, they sustain themselves on almost any organic food. They have a high fecundity, with females releasing as many as 185,000 eggs a year. They survive in water temperatures from freezing to 86 degrees Fahrenheit and tolerate sweetwater zones where salt meets fresh. European green crabs are voracious and feed on native crabs, shellfish and juvenile lobsters, driving down local abundance. In the process, they uproot native plant species, weakening marine nurseries and storm buffers created by eelgrass and spartina. Some marine experts, such as Joe Roman, founder of Eat the Invaders, have advocated for households and restaurants to eat more of this invasive species. Read more here.

McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge Beach and Dune Ridge Restoration Project Awarded 2025 Best Restored Beaches Award

On June 11, McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge Beach and Dune Ridge Restoration Project was awarded the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association's (ASBPA) 2025 Best Restored Beaches Award. This prestigious award recognizes community beach restoration projects nationwide that support shoreline resiliency, help beaches decrease their susceptibility to storm damage and flooding from hazardous storms, and enable beaches to adapt to intermittent sea level rise as essential parts of coastal ecosystems. The Project area is situated on the Texas Chenier Plain in Jefferson and Chambers counties within the Salt Bayou ecosystem, the largest contiguous estuarine marsh complex in Texas. This ecosystem is approximately 139,000 acres of habitat ranging from freshwater to estuarine marsh, coastal grasslands, tidal flats, creeks, basins, and associated aquatic vegetation. Read more here.

Alabama Study Reveals Hurricane Resilience Programs Are Paying Off for Homeowners and Insurers

A new Alabama study of hurricane-affected homes sends a clear message to insurers and homeowners nationwide: climate-resilient construction methods can protect homes and save a lot of money. The first-of-its-kind analysis, released this week, reviews thousands of insurance claims linked to Hurricane Sally. Homes retrofitted or built to Fortified standards, a voluntary construction code created by the nonprofit Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety for wind and rain mitigation saw significantly fewer and less costly claims. The results show “mitigation works and that we can build things that are resilient to climate change,” said Dr. Lars Powell, director of the Center for Risk and Insurance Research at the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business, which led the study with the Alabama Department of Insurance. About 80,000 homes across 32 states now have Fortified designations, with over 53,000 in Alabama. Read more here.

Ice in the Great Lakes Lasted until May

It may seem like summer across the Great Lakes, but it's only been a few weeks since ice clung to the last few areas in Lake Superior, according to data from NOAA. The Great Lakes were at 52.23% ice coverage on Feb. 22, the highest percentages of ice coverage since February 2022 when it hit 56%, NOAA said earlier this year. While ice coverage shrunk quickly with warm spring weather, ice stubbornly hung on in Black Bay and Nipigon Bay, east of Thunder Bay, Ontario, until May 10-11. Lake Michigan, the first Great Lake to thaw completely, had a tiny area of ice at the north end of Green Bay, Wisconsin, on April 10-11. Great Lakes peak ice coverage typically coincides with the end of February, NOAA said. The upper Great Lakes see peak coverage in early March. Read more here.

Ho-Chunk Paddled from Green Bay to Milwakee in Dugout Canoe to Highlight Tribal History

Along the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan on June 5, members of the Ho-Chunk Nation could be seen paddling in a traditional handmade, dugout canoe. The paddle event marked the end of a four-day journey that took them from Green Bay and Sturgeon Bay in Door County along ancestral Indigenous waterways. Along the way, members of the tribe honored their ancestors at Milwaukee's Lake Park, home to one of the last remaining Indigenous mounds in the city. The journey is part of a broader effort to raise awareness of the tribe’s historic presence in the area. “The dugout canoe journey is more than a trip – it’s a cultural reclamation,” said Ho-Chunk Nation President Jon Greendeer in a statement. “As we paddle these waters we carry the stories of our ancestors, reconnect with the land and lake, and invite others to learn with us.” The annual canoe journey started in 2022 with a voyage from the four lakes in Madison then south to Beloit. Read more here.

Blue Creek Salmon Sanctuary and Yurok Tribal Community Forest Now owned and Managed by Yurok Tribe

On June 5th, the California State Coastal Conservancy, Yurok Tribe, and other partners announced the completion of the largest single "land back" deal in California history, marking a milestone achievement for conservation and Tribal sovereignty. Establishing Tribal ownership safeguards the long-term health of this critical ecosystem and culturally significant sites along the Klamath, which is home to one of the most important fall Chinook salmon runs on the West Coast. The conveyance of these lands to the Tribe has more than doubled the Tribe’s land holdings; both California state agencies provided crucial funding to enable this transfer of ownership. “On behalf of the Yurok people, I want to sincerely thank Western Rivers Conservancy for their longtime partnership and commitment to return a major part of our homeland. The impact of this project is enormous,” said Joseph L. James, the chairman of the Yurok Tribe. “In working together for over two decades establishing the Community Forest and Salmon Sanctuary, we are forging a sustainable future for the fish, forests and our people that honors both ecological integrity and our cultural heritage.” Read more here.

US Takes First Step for Potential Mineral Lease Sale near American Samoa

The U.S. Interior Department said on Thursday it was publishing a request for information and interest to explore the potential for seabed mineral leasing offshore American Samoa. The step will launch a 30-day public comment period and initiate formal action toward what could be the first mineral lease sale in federal waters in over 30 years, the department said in a statement. Deep-sea mining firm Impossible Metals said in mid-April that it asked U.S. federal officials to launch a commercial auction for access to deposits of nickel, cobalt and other critical minerals off the coast of American Samoa. No commercial-scale mining of the seabed has previously taken place due to technological hurdles and environmental concerns. Read more here.

[NEW] Nominate a Project for a Best Restored Shore Award

The ASBPA is seeking nominations for the 2025 Best Restored Shore Awards to recognize projects which enhance the environment, particularly on low-energy and moderate-energy shorelines. ASBPA seeks to award well-designed and implemented projects focused on restoring natural resources to enhance shoreline resilience by addressing environmental degradation, storm impacts, climate change, and sea level rise – factors which increasingly threaten the nation’s coastal, estuarine, and Great Lakes communities. Whether a project involves an estuary or a Great Lake, a mangrove or an oyster reef – if it resulted in recreating thriving habitats or improved water quality to benefit multiple uses and aid local economies, we invite you to nominate a project. Nominations are due by July 15, 2025 to the online submittal form. Learn more here.

[NEW] ASBPA Student Award Nominations Now Open

The Students and New Professionals (SNP) Chapter of ASBPA announces student award nominations to be awarded at the National Coastal Conference this October 7 – 10 in Long Beach, CA. Awards and scholarships are open to undergraduate and graduate students. ASBPA Student Awards and poster abstracts are due by August 15. Note: self-nominations are encouraged! Learn more here.

Request for Interviews: Plastic Pollution

Has plastic pollution ever affected your fishing experience? Microplastics are harmful to fish and a major source of this pollution are plastic pellets, trillions of which spill into waterways each year. Environment America, a non-profit organization, is working for Plastic Pellet Free Waters. You can help by sharing your story about why plastic-free waters matter to you by contacting Natalie Greene at ngreene@environmentamerica.org.

Report: Peatlands Play a Vital Ecological and Economic Role in the U.S.

The U.S. is home to some of the world’s most extensive peatlands. But over the past two centuries, these important ecosystems have declined significantly in certain regions, including the coastal Southeast, where more than 70% have disappeared because of diking, draining, and conversion to other uses, mainly agriculture. Pew released a new brief, "Peatlands Play a Vital Ecological and Economic Role in the U.S.", that highlights the important, yet often overlooked, role that peatland ecosystems play as natural climate solutions. The piece features North Carolina’s coastal peatlands prominently and shines a light on how healthy peatlands support biodiversity, clean water, and resilience to floods and wildfires. It also outlines clear policy steps to better protect and restore these ecosystems, starting with improved mapping and the development of conservation goals. Read more here.

Request for Participation: Coastal and Marine Systems Survey

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst are conducting a study to better understand climate change impacts and climate adaptation science needs in coastal and marine systems across the Northeastern U.S. and Eastern Canada. Our goal is to identify key knowledge gaps and barriers to implementation so that future research and adaptation efforts are useful, actionable, and aligned with the real-world challenges facing these systems. This survey is designed for natural resource managers, ecological practitioners, researchers, and community members within the U.S and Canada (ages 18 and older). Your insights will help guide future research and ensure that it is responsive to the most pressing issues facing coastal and marine systems. Your 15–20 minutes of insight and expertise will keep our collective work moving ahead where it’s needed most. Access the survey here.

2024 Sea Level "Report Cards" Map Futures of U.S. Coastal Communities

William & Mary’s Batten School and VIMS have released their 2024 U.S. sea level “report cards,” providing updated analyses of sea level trends and projections for 36 coastal communities. Encompassing 55 years of historical data, the report cards aid planning and adaptation efforts by analyzing rates of sea level rise and acceleration at each locality and forecasting 2050 water levels. This year, the report cards are consolidated in an interactive dashboard and add data from tide gauge stations in Annapolis, MD; Solomons Island, MD; Yorktown, VA; and Fort Myers, FL. The reports group localities into East Coast, Gulf Coast, West Coast and Alaskan Coast regions. Learn more here.

Funding Opportunity: Port Infrastructure Development Program

The US Department of Transportation has announced up to $500 million in funding for the Fiscal Year 2025 Port Infrastructure Development Program. State governments, County governments, Native American Tribal governments, special district governments, and city governments are eligible to apply. The deadline is September 10, 2025. Learn more here.



ASBPA National Coastal Conference 2025 Call for Abstracts

The ASBPA is excited to share the call for abstracts is open for the “Coasts on the Leading Edge: Bridging Science, Policy and Community" on October 7-10 in Long Beach, California. Technical, policy-oriented, and coastal floodplain resource and flood risk management presentations or posters are invited for a broad range of coastal and estuarine ecology, science, engineering, economics, and policy. We will also have sessions on the Blue Flag USA Award criteria such as environmental management; water quality; beach accessibility; beach safety and operations; and community engagement. Abstracts are due August 15 for Poster Presentations. Learn more here.

Funding Opportunities

Nearly all federal grant opportunities are being re-evaluated and updated – awards using IRA and BIL funds are getting extra scrutiny. NOFOs are being removed, replaced, and updated. Be aware the opportunities posted below may be de-listed when you read this.

Coastal States Organization | 50 F Street. NW, Suite 570, Washington, DC 20001 |

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