The diversity of stakeholders along California's coasts include those invested "in marine recreation, transportation, trade, energy, fishing, tourism and national defense, including America's two largest ports and second-largest naval base."

This makes California's coastal conservation policy unique, "because the state doesn't have any single industry or special interest dominating its marine policies like oil and gas in Louisiana, fishing in New England or real estate developers in Florida."

David Halberg waxes ecstatic about California's marine policy at the San Francisco Chronicle, though he does include a few caveats:

California's ocean policies are not perfect. There was the recent mystery of 1,200 stranded sea lion pups off Southern California, where surfers also are cautioned to wait 72 hours after a rainstorm before entering the water because of polluted runoff. Fierce debates also are under way about plans for desalination plants and relicensing of the state's last nuclear power plant on the coast.

We look forward to reading his book, The Golden Shore - California's Love Affair with the Sea.