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Ocean and Coastal Policy Analyst, California Resources
Agency
As an Ocean and Coastal Policy Analyst at the California Resources
Agency, Leah Akins develops ocean policies for the state’s Ocean
Resources Management Program and the California Ocean Protection Council
under the direction of Secretary for Resources Mike Chrisman and
Assistant Secretary Brian Baird. For example, she was the lead author of
the California Ocean and Coastal Information, Research, and Outreach
Strategy, which has been lauded as a national model by the Chairs of
both the U.S. and Pew Ocean Commissions. This strategy sets forth clear
research priorities for the state and a plan to achieve them, including
a $1 million commitment in new funds for research.
Leah chairs the Operations Committee and serves as Vice-Chair of the
Sessions Committee for the California and the World Ocean 2006
Conference. This international conference will bring together all
sectors of the ocean community, including scientists, managers, policy
makers, non-profit organizations, and the public, from across the world
to communicate strategies to improve ocean management.
Her strong background in marine science and policy makes her an
effective liaison between scientists and policy makers. She received her
Masters of Science in Marine Ecology from the University of California
Davis. Her Master’s research on the effect of larval supply on onshore
populations directly relates to the design of marine protected areas in
California. As an undergraduate and technician at the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she worked on research projects studying
the blue crab fishery, Antarctic benthic communities, and sea turtles.
She uses her scientific background to help implement science-based
management and policy in her work at the Resources Agency.
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