Our foundational roots are in Southern California.

The organization was formed there in 2000 when Kurt Lieber was made aware of the great need for the oceans to be cleaned of abandoned fishing gear and all kinds of debris including plastic and other trash that makes its way to the ocean from inland waterways.

He started rallying like-minded ocean conservationists to come together and start this cleaning adventure from right in their own “backyard”: The Pacific Ocean.

ODA remains active off the coasts of the following counties: Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and Ventura, and has done sporadic work north of there.

Debris

The main problems we see in California include abandoned fishing gear and plastic trash.  The fishing industry is active in the coastal waters, so we see a large quantity of lost commercial fishing equipment including line, nets of all kinds, ropes, and multiple types of traps.

People

Here are some of the faces of ODA California. We are thankful to work with so many dedicated, energetic, and highly skilled people.

Boats

Our current flagship is Mr. Barker’s LegaSea donated to ODA by the TV celebrity and animal champion Bob Barker. We also use RIBs (Rigid Inflatable Boats) to help retrieve ghost gear that our SCUBA divers send to the surface.

Places

The LegaSea is docked part of the year in these two locations: Southern California (San Pedro) and Ventura County (Channel Islands). These positions allow us the flexibility to cover a lot of debris sites.

We invite you to check out our other main area of work: Hawai’i

If you’ve already read about our Hawai’i chapter, have a look at the some of the ways you can get involved.

California Articles

February 09, 2021

A Super Sunday for Marsh Defenders & Wildlife Rescuers

Fortuitous timing allows our crew to not only clean a wildlife refuge, but also rescue a shore bird from a fishing line!

February 02, 2021

‘Protected’ marsh and its wildlife needed defending by ODA

Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge saw a deluge of plastics and trash after heavy rains and needed some help from Ocean Defenders. We’re happy to come to the rescue of this land and its diverse array of marine wildlife…

January 25, 2021

National Wildlife Refuge or national disgrace?

Usually, Darlene reaches for the stars with everything she does. See what happens when she tried to go the extra mile to pick-up that blue plastic cup!

January 21, 2021

Humpback Whale and the Trail of Trash

Both our Captain Kurt and Videographer Mark Girardeau documented a horrific line of trash off the coast of Southern California. They were both interviewed by the Orange County Register about this phenomenon. Kurt shares…

January 12, 2021

Coho Salmon Dying from Chemical in Tires

Now we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we’ve been doing the right thing by removing tires from harbors and water ways! Check out Captain Kurt’s blog on this...

November 18, 2020

Hoop Nets Removed and Riverbed Cleaned

Another form of lobster trap is called a “hoop net” and our dive crews are happy to take them out of harm's way while an onshore team picks of scads of plastic and trash.

November 02, 2020

Despite the Fog, Santa Cruz & Anacapa Islands Reveal Many Lobster Traps

ODA wants whales to be able to safely navigate around Santa Cruz and Anacapa Islands, however, lobster fishermen regularly set lines of closely-positioned traps along the edges of the no-take zones.

October 26, 2020

Trap Tracker Data Drive Delivers

Pt. Loma sits at the entrance of San Diego Harbor. On my recent flight I noticed what looked like thousands of traps set just off the coast in a huge kelp bed. To investigate, I grabbed our small RIB off the LegaSea,…

October 21, 2020

Beautiful Coastal Waters Become a Dangerous ‘Jungle’ for Whales

The coast of California from Laguna Beach to Newport Beach is considered to be among the most scenic places in the state. But now, the waters are full of lobster traps and their lines. Our crew is smiling because we aim…

October 16, 2020

Tracking Traps in Order to Give Whales Safe Passage

The lobster fishery is in full force, so we went out to locate the traps. We’re recording the location of close-set traps so we can save whales…

Sep 30, 2020 - Environmental Crimes Against Our Oceans

Sep 23, 2020 - Clearing Abandoned Lobster Traps Before Legal Hunting Begins

Sep 18, 2020 - World Clean Up Day with Inspiration from ODA Friend Laura Angelini

Sep 14, 2020 - Ghost Net Hit and Run

Sep 1, 2020 - Limited Visibility on Seven-mile Wall Crawl Doesn’t Stop Dive Crew

Aug 28, 2020 - Adopt-a-Channel Project Continues

Aug 20, 2020 - Continued Success Finding Ghost Gear on the Seven-mile Wall Crawl

Aug 18, 2020 - Let’s not forget about the Plastic Plague!

Aug 4, 2020 - Will the Whales of the Pacific Ever Get to Breathe a Sigh of Relief?

Jul 21, 2020 - Working with Fishermen to Remove Harmful Marine Debris

Jul 7, 2020 - California Considers New Regulations to Promote Ropeless Traps

Jun 9, 2020 - Seven-mile Wall Crawl for Ocean Debris Begins

Jun 3, 2020 - Seven Lobster Traps Out of Harm’s Way

May 22, 2020 - ODA Works for Ocean Biodiversity Every Day

May 7, 2020 - All Systems Go…for Ocean Debris Removal

Apr 28, 2020 - Individuals in Our Alliance Defend the Oceans

Apr 15, 2020 - ODA Technical Diver Featured Guest on UTD Scuba Diving Podcast

Mar 21, 2020 - So Much Ocean Defending Work to Do

Mar 2, 2020 - ‘Fog’ Boat Wreck Continues to Snag Debris

Jan 21, 2020 - The Microplastic Pollution Problem

Nov 27, 2019 - Giant Black Sea Bass Are Protected by ODA

Nov 5, 2019 - ODA Volunteers Clean Our Adopted ‘Flood-Control’ Channel

Oct 28, 2019 - Determined Defenders Get Their Debris

Oct 23, 2019 - Anchors Away and A Lot of Other Debris Too

Oct 8, 2019 - California Waters Cough Up Derelict Fishing Gear

Oct 3, 2019 - Future Ocean Defenders

Sep 25, 2019 - Coyote Creek Channel Cleanup

Sep 23, 2019 - A Heavy Day for All Divers / ODA Divers Haul Heavy Load

Aug 15, 2019 - Channel Islands Maritime Museum Exhibit About ODA

Aug 12, 2019 - The Net Worth of Ghost Net is Priceless

Aug 6, 2019 - Killer Nets Hang Onto Sunken Boat Wreck

Jul 23, 2019 - Abandoned Fishing Nets No Longer Ensnare Marine Life

Jul 9, 2019 - Dangerous Debris Collects Around Sunken Vessels

Jul 2, 2019 - Defending Ocean Life with Compassion Over Killing

Jun 21, 2019 - Different Ways to Defend the Ocean

Jun 13, 2019 - World Oceans Day is Busy for ODA-Hawaii

Jun 4, 2019 - Sunken Boat - and ODA Crew - Snag Marine Debris

May 21, 2019 - Dockside Dinner for the Oceans

Apr 17, 2019 - Ghost Gear Removed from Southern California Coastal Waters

Apr 2, 2019 - Preparation is Key

Mar 25, 2019 - ‘Twas Ladies Day on the ol’ LegaSea

Mar 1, 2019 - Middle School Students Already Defending the Oceans

Feb 26, 2019 - It Wasn’t ‘The Last Straw’ at Bolsa Chica Beach

Feb 18, 2019 - Bolsa Chica Beach Relieved of Debris

Feb 12, 2019 - Volunteers Needed to Clean Sunset Beach CA

Feb 5, 2019 - Seal Beach Cleanup Opportunity

Dec 20, 2018 - Shoreline Cleanup at Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge

Dec 19, 2018 - The Tale of the Malibu Crab Trap

Dec 12, 2018 - Beach Cleanup in Southern California

Dec 4, 2018 - Northern California Crab Traps Tracked by ODA

Nov 28, 2018 - ODA Tracks Traps in Central California

Nov 12, 2018 - Squid and Gill Nets Cleared from Artificial Reef

Oct 17, 2018 - Captain Kurt to Give Talk at Burroughs Nature Club

Oct 10, 2018 - So Cal Underwater Radio Tower Gets Cleaned

Sep 18, 2018 - Net Loss for the Ocean is Actually a Net Gain

Sep 13, 2018 - Sometimes the Easy Jobs are the Hardest

Aug 24, 2018 - A Tale of Two Cleanups

Aug 13, 2018 - Laguna California Waters Safer for Marine Wildlife

Jul 18, 2018 - Cleaning the Breakwall of Los Angeles Harbor

Jul 9, 2018 - Sunken Vessel Collects Marine Debris – ODA Removes It

Jun 29, 2018 - Trap and All Kinds of Debris Removed from So Cal Waters

Jun 13, 2018 - Marine Protected Area Cleaned by ODA

Jun 7, 2018 - Southern California Ghost Gear Recovery

May 23, 2018 - Killer Traps Kill No More

May 15, 2018 - Derelict Fishing Gear Removed from Huntington Harbor

Apr 19, 2018 - Students Using ROV Assist with Marine Debris Removal

Apr 17, 2018 - Dockside Dinner and Drinks 2018

Apr 2, 2018 - Testing, Training, Trap Tracking and Removal

Mar 6, 2018 - Dockside Dinner & Drinks

Feb 28, 2018 - Whale Disentanglement Team (WET) Continues Training ODA

Feb 8, 2018 - Tracking Traps to Protect Whales and All Marine Life

Jan 31, 2018 - So Cal Plastic Patrol Cleans Birds' Ocean Habitat

Jan 22, 2018 - Cleaning Our Waterways: ODA’s New Adopt A Channel

Nov 30, 2017 - ODA’s Trap Trackers are clearing the way for whales in Laguna Beach!

Nov 1, 2017 - ODA Trains with the NOAA Whale Entanglement Team

Oct 19, 2017 - Seal Beach Nat'l Wildlife Refuge’s Special Cleanup a Success

Oct 5, 2017 - Wetlands Cleanup at Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge

Sep 26, 2017 - Humpback Whale Killed by Derelict Fishing Gear

Aug 17, 2017 - Lawsuit to End Whale, Sea Turtle Entanglements in California Dungeness Crab Gear

Jul 31, 2017 - Busy Summer Days at ODA

Jul 11, 2017 - National Marine Sanctuaries – No New Review Needed

Jun 13, 2017 - Fishing Site Loaded with Dangerous Ghost Gear

Jun 9, 2017 - The Great Big Story

Jun 8, 2017 - New and Veteran Volunteers Remove Debris from LA Harbor

May 31, 2017 - Alliance Actions Abound

Apr 25, 2017 - Jeff Larson, We'll Miss You – a Friend to the Oceans and ODA

Apr 18, 2017 - Abandoned Lobster Traps Removed

Apr 12, 2017 - Women’s Sailing Association - Orange County - an ODA Presentation

Apr 11, 2017 - Channeling Debris from the Channel

Apr 3, 2017 - ODA Searches for Gray Whale Entangled in Ghost Gear

Mar 14, 2017 - Cleanup at Bolsa Chica Channel

Mar 6, 2017 - 600 Pounds of Plastic Debris ‘Put in its Place’

Feb 14, 2017 - Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge Cleanup Effort Continues

Feb 7, 2017 - Wetlands More Habitable Now

Jan 31, 2017 - Huntington Beach Harbor Clean-up Under Way

Jan 26, 2017 - Plastic Patrol Plea for Partners

Jan 16, 2017 - A Plastic Ocean

Jan 11, 2017 - Cleaning Newport Beach Waters of Hazardous Debris

Dec 22, 2016 - Holiday Gifts for the Oceans

Dec 13, 2016 - Abandoned Squid Net Kills No More

Nov 28, 2016 - Set Out for Net and Scored Traps Instead!

Nov 21, 2016 - Celebrate Good Times…and Clean Oceans

Oct 20, 2016 - Fishing Gear Entangles Whale

Sep 6, 2016 - Orange Slices TV Show Features Ocean Defenders Alliance

Aug 17, 2016 - Ghost Gear Removed Means More Healthy Ocean Life

Aug 8, 2016 - Eyes on the Water

Aug 4, 2016 - Back in Action!: Anacapa Island Lobster Traps Removed

Jul 6, 2016 - Wetlands Plastic Debris - Your ODA Team is on the Job

Jun 30, 2016 - NBC Los Angeles Covers ODA Efforts to Save Whales

Jun 28, 2016 - Whale Entanglements: A preventable problem

Jun 15, 2016 - Hauling and stalling in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary

Jun 5, 2016 - Defending marine life for World Oceans Day!

May 25, 2016 - To save our salty ocean friends!

May 18, 2016 - End drift net killing! Urgent call to Action for all Ocean Defenders and Allies!

Apr 12, 2016 - Spring cleaning and a change of scenery

Mar 28, 2016 - Spring Cleaning for the Ocean

Feb 11, 2016 - Super Haul Sunday

Jan 31, 2016 - Droning on About Efficiency