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As co-chairs of California and the World Ocean Conference 2006 (CWO ’06), Secretary for Resources Mike Chrisman, State Controller Steve Westly, and Secretary for Environmental Protection Alan Lloyd invite you to submit an abstract for an oral or poster presentation. This international conference, organized by the California Resources Agency, the California Environmental Protection Agency, and the Coastal Conservancy Association, will be held September 17-20, 2006 at the Hyatt Regency, Long Beach, California, U.S.A.

CWO ’06 will take place as California and the nation are responding to a renewed call for ocean and coastal protection from the Pew and U.S. Ocean Commissions.  The California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) is developing a strategic plan to improve the protection and management of California’s ocean and coastal resources. The OPC strategic plan is scheduled to be completed by June 2006, but the hard work of implementing the plan will be in full swing when the conference begins. With this event, California will bring together representatives from academia, government, industry, and the public to share ideas and to discuss how California can attain the goals of its strategic plan.

Presentations at CWO ’06 will address all ocean and coastal subjects that can be applied to resource management and policy. Presentations should focus on implementation of the California Ocean Protection Council’s strategic plan that is currently being developed and other California ocean policies. Key policies include the California Ocean Protection Act, the Governor’s Ocean Action Plan- Protecting our Ocean: California’s Action Strategy, and the California Ocean and Coastal Information, Research, and Outreach Strategy. All submissions will be considered, but priority will be given to those directed at helping the OPC implement the goals of its strategic plan. Please refer to drafts of the OPC strategic plan and other key California ocean policies posted at http://resources.ca.gov/copc/ in developing your presentation.

Please submit your presentation abstract by April 14, 2006* on the Abstract Submission Page at http://resources.ca.gov/ocean/cwo06/. Be prepared with a 300-word abstract and a 300-word biography before starting the abstract submission form.

*Proposals for complete topical sessions. The Concurrent Sessions Committee will also consider proposals for complete topical sessions. For those interested in submitting an idea for a complete session, please submit an abstract describing your proposed session topic with names of recommended speakers. Recommended speakersmust submit their own abstract separately to be considered.

The Concurrent Sessions Committee will review all submissions and e-mail notification of acceptance will be sent in mid-June. All expenses for preparation and delivery of presentations are the responsibility of the authors, including abstract submission, travel, lodging, registration fees, and any meals not included in the registration fee. All session chairs and presenters are required to pay conference registration fees and any other costs associated with attending the conference.

For more information on CWO ’06, please see http://resources.ca.gov/ocean/cwo06/ or contact Conference Headquarters at cwo2006@completeconference.com or 916-922-7032.