Can a Blue Revolution Save Southern California’s Ocean Economy?

California has the largest ocean economy of any state in the U.S. The bulk of it is focused along the coast in the Southern California Bight, the region from Point Conception in the north to the U.S.-Mexico border in the south. The three largest components of California’s private sector ocean economy in deceasing order of economic importance are: coastal tourism related primarily to the region’s beaches; shipping and movement of goods; and recovery of offshore minerals, primarily oil and gas. Together they constitute 95% of the State’s private sector ocean economy. Well before the end of the century, one of these sectors will be gone entirely; one will be significantly reduced, and only one will remain strong. The production of offshore oil and gas will be over in the next 15–20 years leaving the 27 offshore oil platforms (23 in Federal waters and 4 in State Waters) with an uncertain future. Well before the end of the century with sea level rise and coastal erosion, most of the region’s beaches will be severely compressed or lost entirely with a huge impact on coastal tourism (California’s 4^th Climate Assessment Report: Los Angeles Summary Report, 2018). In 2012, Coastal Travel and Tourism accounted for 39% of the State’s ocean economy GDP (${\$}$17.6 billion) and 75% of the ocean economy’s employment (368,000) and 46 % of the ocean economy’s wages (${\$}$8.7 billion) (NOAA NOEP 2015). Only shipping and transportation will remain strong, but not without important changes to keep pace with changing societal priorities. Ships will need to be quieter, more fuel efficient and cleaner in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. All these advances will require technological breakthroughs, many of which can be developed by leveraging California’s technology and innovation networks.