Ocean Aquaculture Panel Discussion:
Red Abalone

Sunday, October 11, 2026
2:30-4:30 PM

Noyo Center for Marine Science Field Station
32430 N. Harbor Drive in Fort Bragg

Dive deep into the topic of regenerative aquaculture with a panel discussion hosted by the Noyo Center.

This interactive panel will explore the role of conservation aquaculture in restoring California’s abalone populations and kelp forests. Following brief presentations and a moderated discussion, participants will have the opportunity to engage directly with scientists through hands-on demonstrations, including abalone ultrasound, and informal conversations.

A tasting of farmed abalone from Cultured Abalone in Santa Barbara will be served together with local beer from North Coast Brewery. Recommended donation of $10 at the door.

Panelists:

Sara E. Boles, PhD; Assistant Project Scientist, Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California, Davis

Ann Bishop, Hatchery & Research Manager, and Andie Van Horn, Farm-to-Fork Manager, Cultured Abalone Farm

Dr. Dan Sweezey, Director for Oceans and Aquaculture, Kashia Band of Pomo Indians

Update on the Kelp Restoration
and Management Plan

Sunday, October 11, 2026
1:30-2:30 PM
Noyo Center for Marine Science Field Station
32430 N. Harbor Drive in Fort Bragg

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department), in close collaboration and with support from the Ocean Protection Council (OPC) and other partners, continues to develop a statewide, adaptive, ecosystem-based Kelp Restoration and Management Plan (KRMP) for giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, and bull kelp, Nereocystis luetkeana, that will guide the state’s efforts to manage, protect, and restore kelp forests in California waters. A multi-pronged approach, consisting of a Community Working Group (CWG), Science Advisory Committee (SAC), and ongoing Tribal Engagement, is underway to ensure the development of the KRMP is informed by the best available science and community perspectives across the state of California. We will discuss recent kelp action in California, the core components of the KRMP, and the KRMP’s overall development process and opportunities for engagement.

Wave-Powered Desal Unit Visit in Fort Bragg

September 19, 2026 1:30-4:30 PM

Oneka Technologies is hosting a public forum about their wave-powered desalination buoy that has been deployed off shore. To attend, please RSVP by Sept. 15th by emailing karine.dandonneau@onekawater.com.

Recommended attire: closed-toe shoes.

California Coastal Cleanup Day

September 19, 2026 10 AM - 12 PM

Join your community in keeping our beautiful coastline clean! Supplies are provided, just show up!

Summer Seafood Dinner
Saturday, July 18, 2026
6PM-8PM

Noyo Center Marine Field Station
32430 N. Harbor Drive
Fort Bragg, California

Featuring a five-course menu with a seafood entree
Menu curated and cooked by our board member Dania Stoneham
Vegan and gluten free options available
One glass of wine or craft beer included
Additional wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages
available for purchase.

$125

Proceeds to benefit the Noyo Center for Marine Science programs.

Join us for a special evening with Ted Cheeseman,
Co-Founder & Director of Happy Whale

Thursday, July 16, 2026
Noyo Center Marine Field Station
5:00 Happy Hour (Food, wine, beer, and soft drinks)
6:00 Presentation Begins

Happywhale and North Pacific humpback whale conservation science through the stories of five whales

Ted will explore the life histories of five individual humpback whales including Big Mama and her family of the Salish Sea, Fran and her daughter of California, and Old Timer of Alaska, to illustrate modern marine conservation science. These stories show how great an impact every contributor to citizen science has in helping us understand and protect great whales and our oceans, while revealing insights into their unique culture and biology.

About Ted Cheeseman:
Dr. Ted Cheeseman is a research fellow at the University of California Santa Cruz and co-founder and director of Happywhale, a research collaboration and citizen science platform that uses AI-powered image recognition to track individual whales globally. He completed his PhD in Marine Science at Southern Cross University, Australia, where his widely collaborative work on North Pacific humpback whale populations leveraged AI technology to identify nearly every living whale in the region—revealing that one-third of Hawaiʻi's humpback population was lost following a three-year marine heatwave.

Born into a family of biologists and expedition leaders, Ted led Antarctic expeditions for 30 years before pivoting to marine science. His research has been published in over 40 peer-reviewed papers, and he has contributed to international research collaborations spanning all the world’s oceans. Through Happywhale, he aims to democratize whale research by bringing together scientists and citizen scientists to document entire ocean populations—achieving in a day what previously required a year of data processing. When not studying whales, Ted is happiest anywhere wild, especially in surf, snow, and high mountains.

There is no charge for this event, but a suggested $10 donation at the door (or online) to help support these events is encouraged.

Space is limited - RSVP here to reserve your spot!

Film Screening: The Last Forests Project

Thank you to everyone that joined us for a special screening of The Last Forests Project,
and to filmmakers Marco Mazza, Steve Page and Abbey Dias, for donating the proceeds from the evening to the Noyo Center for Marine Science.

For thousands of years, prolific Kelp Beds have spanned across the Northern California coastline, providing some of the most beautiful and biologically diverse and productive ecosystems on earth. Between 2014 and 2018, a series of prolonged environmental stressors and imbalances led to the loss of over 90% of kelp forests between San Francisco and Oregon. 

The Last Forests Project is a visual journey through the causes and effects of this ecosystem collapse, as well as the scientific and community efforts in place to help bring back our kelp forests. Our mission is to be the eyes and voice for the forests that we cannot see fall. We hope to inspire change in our coastal communities, and create a legacy of ocean activism.

60th Anniversary Reception & Screening of
“The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming”

Sunday, November 9, 2025
Noyo Center Field Station and Coast Cinemas

Brace yourself for a comedic “invasion” on the coast as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming, a Cold War classic shot almost entirely on the Mendocino Coast.

2pm-3:30pm: Reception and Pop-Up Exhibit: Free Admission
Noyo Center for Marine Science’s Field Station (used as a filming location) at 32430 N. Harbor Drive in Fort Bragg. Enjoy snacks and drinks as you meet local residents who were extras during the film’s production. Don’t miss the Kelley House Museum’s pop-up exhibit full of memorabilia, which will be on display at the reception and includes historic photos of the premiere at Coast Cinemas. Free admission.

4pm-6pm: 60th Anniversary Screening of
The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming: Tickets $15
Coast Cinemas, 135 S. Franklin St. Fort Bragg. During production, the Fort Bragg Advocate News described the comedic plot as, “the accidental grounding of a Russian submarine because its skipper wanted to get a closer look at the United States. The sub gets hung up on a sandbar and the plot unfolds as the crew determines ways of getting away at the same time Americans are mistaking the accident as an invasion.” The cast included Carl Reiner, Alan Arkin, Eva Marie Saint, Jonathan Winters, Brian Keith, and Ben Blue, plus plenty of locals.

The event is jointly hosted by the Mendocino Film Festival, the Kelley House Museum, and the Noyo Center for Marine Science.