Through days at sea, community meetings, and conversations around town, one lesson is clear: ocean conservation works best when communities lead. 🌊
📖Read the full story and explore the journey: azul.org/en/blog/from...
🦞California to Chile: Azul’s Founder & Executive Director Marcela Gutiérrez-Graudiņš reflects on her journey to the Juan Fernández Archipelago—where fishing families, local leaders, and women of the community are shaping one of the world’s most powerful examples of people-centered ocean governance.
“The Coastal Act is the linchpin of equity & environmental justice along the California coast,” said Marcela Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, Azul's Founder & Executive Director.
https://www.independent.com/2026/02/26/lawmakers-mark-50-years-of-the-california-coastal-act-vow-to-defend-and-expand-coastal-access/
ICYMI – Azul's Founder and Executive Director, Marcela Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, joined the Secretary Speaker Series to celebrate the Coastal Act's 50th anniversary!
@thecacoast.bsky.social @cacoastal.bsky.social
Check out the recording ⬇️ https://www.youtube.com/live/eYjby5OVccs?si=T7dLLsaf4Ul1JuaF
📆 Today at 12pm PT!
Azul's Founder and Executive Director, Marcela Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, is joining the Secretary Speaker Series to celebrate the Coastal Act's 50th anniversary. @thecacoast.bsky.social @cacoastal.bsky.social
🔗 Register: https://tinyurl.com/coastalact
"Mijo, wake up, it's time to join #LatinosMarinos at California Ocean Day"
If you're looking for a space that centers community, culture, and music in ocean advocacy, apply today to join #LatinosMarinos at #CAOceanDay 2026 in Sacramento!
🗓️ Apply today: www.bit.ly/AzulCAOD2026
¿Listo para hacer olas? ✨🌊
Únete a nosotros en Sacramento este abril y sé parte de la comunidad de #LatinosMarinos que está marcando el camino en #CAOceanDay 2026.
Las aplicaciones ya están ABIERTAS. Fecha límite: lunes, 16 de marzo 🐋
Aplica HOY: https://bit.ly/AzulCAOD2026
Así pasa cuando sucede...
Learn more about the National Azul Poll: http://bit.ly/AzulPoll2024
#BadBunny #LatinosMarinos #AzulPoll
🏆 We also want to thank Commissioners Notthoff and Escalante, who gave a shout-out during the meeting to our Founder and Executive Director, Marcela Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, for receiving the 2026 Peter Benchley Award for Excellence in Action!
We thank the Commissioners and staff at for this thoughtful and action-oriented report. It is a testament to what is possible when agencies and community partners work in true partnership to advance environmental justice for all Californians!
documents.coastal.ca.gov/assets/env-j...
➡️ It also ensured that at least one seat on the Commission is filled by someone who lives in and works directly with communities most burdened by environmental injustice, advancing representation in decision-making that historically didn’t exist.
#AB2616 fundamentally transformed the California Coastal Act by giving the Coastal Commission explicit authority to consider environmental justice — including the equitable distribution of environmental benefits and burdens — in coastal development permit decisions.
Central to this progress is Assembly Bill 2616, which Azul proudly co-sponsored and championed alongside community partners when it was enacted in 2016.
calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/hearings/100...
At the @thecacoast.bsky.social this week, our California Policy Manager, Tomas Valadez, delivered public comment on behalf of Azul in support of the Commission’s new Environmental Justice report, "Shifting the Current." 🧵
In times like these, it’s worth remembering the ocean knows no borders.
Migration is natural. Criminalizing it is not. #AbolishICE
¡Enhorabuena, Marcela! Known as the “Academy Awards for the Ocean,” the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards honor the world’s top ocean champs – making Marcela's win a historic moment for Latina leadership & justice-driven action on the global stage!
https://youtube.com/shorts/hPXyUhMMkZg?feature=share
We have MAJOR news!!
Marcela Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, Founder & Executive Director of Azul, has received the 2026 Peter Benchley Ocean Award for Excellence in Action 🌊🏆
¡Enhoranuena, Marcela! We are so incredibly proud!
#LatinosMarinos #PeterBenchleyOceanAwards
‼️ NECESITAMOS TU VOZ PARA DETENER LOS DERRAMES DE PETRÓLEO‼️
⏰ HOY es el último día para enviar un comentario público en contra del plan
➡️ TOMA ACCIÓN: Visita bit.ly/NoManchesElMar para unirte a la ola de defensa!
#NoManchesElMar #ProtectOurCoasts
‼️ NECESITAMOS TU VOZ PARA DETENER LOS DERRAMES DE PETRÓLEO‼️
⏰ Tenemos hasta el 23 de enero para enviar nuestros comentarios públicos en contra.
TOMA ACCIÓN: Visita bit.ly/NoManchesElMar para unirte a la ola de defensa!
#NoManchesElMar #ProtectOurCoasts youtube.com/shorts/P9vfr...
⚠️Pon LÍMITE a los derrames de petróleo⚠️
⏰ Tenemos hasta el 23 de enero para enviar nuestros comentarios públicos en contra.
TOMA ACCIÓN: Visita http://bit.ly/NoManchesElMar para unirte a la ola de defensa!
#NoManchesElMar #ProtectOurCoasts https://youtube.com/shorts/wvEIrfGmQxI?feature=share
Together, they urged U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to remove California from the Trump Administration’s proposed expansion of offshore drilling.
🌊➡️ TAKE ACTION: Visit bit.ly/NoManchesElMar to join the wave of defense!
#ProtectOurCoasts #NoManchesElMar
Latino voters make up nearly 40% of California’s population & we overwhelmingly reject offshore drilling. #AzulPoll
Azul Founder & ED Marcela Gutiérrez-Graudiņš joined Assemblymember Addis, Secretary Wade Crowfoot, & members of the #caleg at the State Capitol last week ⤵️ youtube.com/shorts/DR0F6...
Join us in urging Congress to prioritize decommissioning solutions that protect our ocean, reduce environmental and health risks, and hold polluters accountable.
TAKE ACTION: Visit bit.ly/NoManchesElMar to join the wave of defense!
#NoManchesElMar #ProtectOurCoasts
⚠️ Cleanup costs are estimated at $40-70 billion, but companies have only posted $3.5 billion in bonds – leaving us on the hook for the rest.
⚠️ As of 2023, over 75% of idle infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico was overdue for decommissioning. This represents more than 2,700 wells and 500 platforms.
⚠️ 97% of decommissioned pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico — a staggering 18,000 miles — remain on the seafloor.
On Jan 23 @ 10:15 am ET, the House Committee on Natural Resources will hold a hearing on H.R. 5745, a bill that would let oil & gas companies walk away from inactive offshore platforms & pipelines – shifting cleanup costs to taxpayers.
All this while corporate polluters keep the profits.🧵
What's next? The Senate is expected to vote next week, & they're up against a Jan. 30 deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown.
➡️TAKE ACTION: Now is the time to call on our Members of Congress to protect federal science capacity & fully fund the programs our communities and ocean depend on!
Although this package rejects the most extreme proposed cuts, it still reduces federal funding for environmental, climate, and renewable energy programs. 😒
The bill preserves the National Marine Fisheries Service, yet it makes significant cuts to NOAA's Oceanic and Atmospheric Research office. 🫢
📝 Federal Budget Update 📝
Today, the House passed a bipartisan 2026 funding package.
What does it mean for our ocean? 🧵⬇️
Today, we're celebrating Azul's Senior Director of Operations, Celia C.J. Solis, who has been making waves with Azul for 6 years now! ✨
Celia was the 3rd member to join the Azul team and has been instrumental in our growth. We truly couldn't be more grateful. Happy Azul-versary, Celia! 🥳 🌊
