August 18, 2026 — The Port of Hueneme marked World Oceans Day with its fourth annual “Sustaining the Seas Summit” on Tuesday, August 18, at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum in Oxnard.
The Summit brought together Port of Hueneme staff, environmentalists, maritime companies, and community organizations for robust discussions on sustainability and the challenges facing the world’s oceans.
“We have an ambitious but achievable goal to reach zero-emissions status at the Port of Hueneme by 2030,” said Oxnard Harbor District Board President Jason Hodge. “As leaders in clean port operations, it’s exciting to bring together leading minds in environmental stewardship in pursuit of real progress when it comes to protecting our oceans.”
Observed annually on June 8, World Oceans Day raises awareness about the critical role the world’s oceans play in our ecosystems and communities. It highlights issues related to plastic waste, biodiversity, climate change, and wildlife.
This year’s keynote speaker, Ocean Rainforest’s Regulatory and Engagement Lead Kaira Wallace, delivered a presentation titled “Kelp us Farm,” in which she highlighted aquaculture and explored innovative approaches to sustainably harvesting kelp for human consumption. Wallace’s work focuses on navigating the complex environmental permitting processes while building a sustainable seaweed industry.
Other sessions included “Below the Bubbles: A Dive into Underwater Noise,” and “Whale Routes Revealed: A Youth Conversation on the Deep.”
The Summit also serves as a backdrop for the Port of Hueneme and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to present their “Blue Whales Blue Skies” awards to shipping lines that have agreed to participate in NOAA’s Vessel Speed Reduction Program that provides incentives to companies for incorporating sustainable shipping practices across their global supply chains. By lowering speed, vessels reduce the risk of whale strikes and decrease greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and underwater noise.
This year’s recipients included Glovis, K Line, Champion Tankers, MOL ACE, Wallenius Wilhelmsen, Maersk, and NYK Line.
“The ocean is central to everything we do at the Port of Hueneme and we all must work together to protect its future,” said Kristin Decas, CEO and Port Director of the Port of Hueneme. “The Blue Whales Blue Skies Program illustrates how collaboration with our great ocean line customers can support the health of our marine ecosystem. We’re proud to recognize so many companies for doing their part to make our waters cleaner, quieter, and safer.”
The Port of Hueneme was the first Port Ambassador for the Blue Whales Blue Skies Program. In 2017, the organization became the first port in California to achieve Green Marine certification. The third-party certification program measures environmental performance across the maritime industry. During its 2025 recertification, the Port achieved its highest scores on record.
