Ocean Career Pathways

Youth economic advancement

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

The Blue Economy is defined as "sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems." The value of the Blue Economy, estimated at $1.5 trillion annually, is expected to double over the next decade. Investment in the workforce for this burgeoning economy will help Los Angeles take advantage of one of its greatest assets: our coastline. As stated in the Center for a Competitive Workforce’s 2022 Ocean Economy 101 study, “The future of the state’s economic success lies in cultivating a 21st century workforce that facilitates access to education and employment opportunities while cultivating emerging sectors and technologies that enhance social mobility." AltaSea is built on this premise and has developed a business model and network of ocean innovators, scientists, and education partners to create career pathways in the Blue Economy for local BIPOC youth from disadvantaged communities.

LA2050 funds will support the next phase of our Ocean Career Pathways programs for youth ages 16 – 24, enabling AltaSea to:
1) EXPAND: Internship Program. We launched our college internship program in 2018 and added mentorships (unpaid internships) for high school students in 2020. We partner with community organizations including CSU – Dominguez Hills College Corps, Ready to Succeed, ScholarMatch and SBCC to identify and place first-generation college students, foster youth and other disadvantaged students in AltaSea tenant businesses. We seek to expand from 40 to 70 interns/mentees in 2025.
2) PILOT: Certificate Program. In 2023-24, Santa Monica College (SMC) launched a Sustainable Ocean Aquaculture certificate program, the first marine aquaculture certificate program in California. AltaSea will play an essential role in placing the first two cohorts of 30 students each with our resident businesses. 3) LAUNCH: Apprenticeship. In partnership with the Maritime Environmental Training Trust (METT), an AltaSea tenant, and El Camino College, we have developed a Marine Apprentice Program that will provide classroom and hands-on training to students leading to qualification for entry-level U.S. Mariner credentialing and employment in the maritime industry. We hope to launch the program with 10 apprentice trainees in January 2025.
These career pathway programs build on our K-12 education programs, which raise awareness and inspire students to pursue Blue Economy careers.

L.A. will have a thriving Blue Economy that offers economic opportunity to those who need it most. A 2013 analysis projects AltaSea will generate $290 million in annual economic activity and 1,350 permanent local jobs. Ocean Career Pathways will promote just and equitable distribution through:
1) Youth access to the Blue Economy. While there are other organizations introducing youth to STEM careers and to ocean habitats, no one else is facilitating their entrance into L.A.’s rapidly growing ocean-based economy. 2) Expansion of career pathways. The certificate and apprenticeship programs are the leading edge of the Blue Economy Climate Action Pathways Program, a coalition of 13 L.A. community colleges who are designing and adapting programs to build a workforce pipeline for the Blue Economy. The success of our pilot programs will set the stage for replication across the coalition.
Importantly, the project will bolster climate-saving enterprises essential for community sustainability.

The internship program has been successful in engaging youth who are facing significant challenges in accessing well-paying career paths and who are underrepresented in STEM fields. To date, 75% of participants are BIPOC and more than half came through partner agencies, such as ScholarMatch and Ready To Succeed, that target first-generation college students, foster youth, and other disadvantaged populations. The potential for replication is already being realized as we are developing a certificate program in marine energy (wave, tide, hydrogen) with L.A. Harbor College and several corporations. It may launch as soon as fall 2025.
The ultimate measure of the program’s success will be the entry of diverse youth into career-path positions in the Blue Economy. We will track the growth in the number of participants in the Ocean Career Pathway programs and follow them post-program to determine if they entered Blue Economy positions, other STEM fields, higher education or other career path.