Understanding California's dynamic ocean, and assessing anthropogenic impacts on its marine environments
The California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) is a long-term oceanographic and marine ecosystem monitoring and research program that that surveys the physical, biogeochemical, and biological dynamics of the marine environment with the goal of serving data and science in support of sustainable marine resource management.
Oceanographic Data
Temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and many more environmental variables from CTD sampling and underway systems
Marine Ecosystem Data
Marine mammals, seabirds, fish eggs & larvae, zooplankton, phytoplankton, primary production, bacterioplankton, and eDNA from net tows, CTD sampling, and underway systems
Latest News
Over 75 Years of Fish Larvae Observations from California Coast Now Globally Accessible
CalCOFI has recently published its long-running larval fish and egg dataset to the Ocean Biodiversity Information
Tiny Ocean Life Helps Scientists Estimate the Prevalence of Whales Off California: eDNA technology improves view of marine ecosystems
A new study co-led by CalCOFI researchers, including Erin Satterthwaite, demonstrates how environmental DNA (eDNA) and
Feeding Frenzies and Whale Songs: Notes from the Flying Bridge
Hi! I’m Ainsleigh Lloyd, a researcher in the Marine Bioacoustics Research Collaborative at Scripps Institution of
Beneath Pacific Tides: Sharing tales from CalCOFI at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum
In January, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum in Oxnard,
Cruise Experience Spotlight: A Full-Circle Moment at Sea
Hi, my name is Mallory! I’m a current Master’s student at SIO, and I got to
Cruise Experience Spotlight: A Sea-Bird Scientific Perspective from the R/V Sally Ride
My name is Marialena Christopoulou, and I am a Customer Support Scientist in
Physical Oceanography
Spring CalCOFI Cruise – March – April 2026
NOAA FSV Bell M. Shimada
San Diego to San Francisco
Loading: 28-30 March 2026 (Port of San Diego 10th Avenue Marine Terminal)
Offloading: 25 April 2026 (San Francisco Pier)
CalCOFI conducts four research cruises per year; typically in January, April, July, and October.
Cruises depart from and return to San Diego, CA and occasionally San Francisco, CA. Depending on the season and number of stations targeted, cruises are between 15 to 25 days.
Check the Cruises page for dates of upcoming cruises and summaries of completed cruises.
CalCOFI is a unique partnership between government and academic organizations including NOAA’s Fisheries Service, California Department of Fish & Wildlife, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
