Unique finds, unique curations, unique people.
Independents
6th Jun '25
| By The Wolf & Badger Team
We caught up with the Heal The Bay team to chat about their mission and successes, the impact of wildfires on coastal ecosystems, and how each of us can contribute to protecting the oceans.
A Q&A With Heal The Bay
Heal The Bay is a leading environmental nonprofit dedicated to making the coastal waters and watersheds in the Greater Los Angeles area safe, healthy, and clean. Established in 1985, they have been an advocate for the Santa Monica Bay for over three decades, demanding climate action, protecting public health, and campaigning for bans on single-use plastics.
Wolf & Badger is excited to have recently sponsored Heal The Bay's biggest beach cleanup of the year, with over 1500 volunteers coming together to remove 274 lbs of trash and residues from the beach, equating to approximately 1370 plastic water bottles.
We caught up with the Heal The Bay team to chat about their mission and successes, the impact of wildfires on coastal ecosystems, and how each of us can contribute to protecting the oceans.
Image courtesy of Heal The Bay
W&B: What does ‘healing the bay’ encompass? How did the name come about, and what is Heal The Bay’s mission?
HTB: Heal the Bay is an environmental nonprofit dedicated to making the coastal waters and watersheds in Greater Los Angeles safe, healthy, and clean. We use science, education, community action, and advocacy to fulfill our mission. Founded in 1985, Heal the Bay was started by a small group of activists, including the fearless Dorothy Green, who were concerned about the health of Santa Monica Bay. The water off the coast of Los Angeles looked polluted and had a foul smell; people who swam or surfed in the water were getting sick; and a "dead zone" was causing fish and dolphins to develop fin rot and tumors. Heal the Bay responded to this growing environmental concern by spearheading one of the most successful grassroots campaigns in Los Angeles County. These efforts led to increased sewage and stormwater treatment and subsequent improvements to water quality that reversed the “dead zone” in Santa Monica Bay. Today and with the support of 20,000 active members and volunteers, Heal the Bay educates the public, mobilizes community members, and protects the health of millions of California beachgoers annually through its year-round research, education, community action, stewardship, and advocacy programs.
W&B: Walk us through some Heal The Bay initiatives, from beach cleans to the aquarium.
HTB: At Heal the Bay, we’ve achieved some incredible milestones, and it's all thanks to the community's support. For starters, we monitor over 700 beaches, providing real-time data to help people make informed decisions about the safety of their waters. Our Beach Report Card has reached over 10 million users, giving people the tools to understand the water quality in their area. Over the past 40 years, we’ve been dedicated to protecting 97.5 miles of coastline, and we’ve removed more than 2 million pounds of trash along the way. Our Heal the Bay Aquarium has also been a major hub for education, where we’ve cared for over 1,000 species and taught more than 280,000 students about the importance of environmental conservation.
As we approach our 40th anniversary, our commitment to climate resilience is more urgent than ever. The recent wildfires have really underscored how crucial it is to address the effects of wildfire runoff, which impacts both our oceans and public safety. In response, we’ve launched a series of initiatives. We recently rescued 160 endangered Tidewater gobies from Topanga, an area heavily affected by fire runoff, and we’re caring for them until they can safely return to their natural habitat. We're also working closely with local agencies to improve water quality standards and mitigate harmful runoff. Our scientists are conducting extensive water quality tests, especially in areas impacted by the fires, to monitor for harmful toxins like heavy metals and forever chemicals.
We’ve been busy on the ground too. During the Palisades Fire, we partnered with local fire departments to provide real-time updates on beach safety and water quality, helping the community stay informed. We’re also advocating for better stormwater management strategies with the City of Los Angeles to prevent pollutants from entering the ocean during storms.
Image courtesy xof Heal The Bay
In addition to all of this, our CEO, Tracy Quinn, was appointed to the LA County Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire Safe Recovery, where she’s helping lead climate action efforts at the county level. We’re committed to coastal resiliency with a focus on sustainability and creating a future that’s stronger and more resilient in the face of climate challenges.
Also- Coastal Cleanup Day, an international volunteer day of action, will be held on September 20th, later on this year. Here in SoCal, Heal the Bay is the Los Angeles County Coordinator for the event, and we organize 60+ cleanup sites (60% coastal, 40% inland) and have around 10,000 volunteers join in on cleanup efforts. This is such a special day, with a massive impact. We’d love to have as many people join in- no matter where you are, you can make an impact!
W&B: Why beach cleans?
HTB: Beach cleanups are essential because they serve as the last line of defense in the fight against ocean pollution. Every piece of trash removed helps protect marine life and preserve the health of our beaches, which are vital to the environment and the local community. At Heal the Bay, our dedicated volunteers have removed more than 2 million pieces of trash from Los Angeles’ coastline, directly reducing pollution that threatens wildlife and ecosystems. But beyond cleanup efforts, these events also raise awareness about the scale of the problem and encourage a collective responsibility to reduce waste at its source. It’s not just about cleaning up – it’s about inspiring people to take action and make environmentally conscious decisions that prevent pollution before it even reaches the ocean.
Image courtesy of Heal The Bay
W&B: What are some Heal The Bay success stories? Have you noticed any impact—whether through local changes or legislation—as a result of these efforts?
HTB: Some of Heal the Bay’s biggest success stories are rooted in legislative wins, particularly local policies in the Los Angeles area. One major achievement is the Safe Clean Water Program, originally known as Measure W. Heal the Bay played a key role in passing this measure, which created a parcel tax in LA County to fund projects that capture and clean stormwater. Every time it rains just one inch in LA, roughly 10 billion gallons of freshwater rush through our 5,000-mile storm drain system and are lost to the ocean. By reclaiming and reusing that water, we not only bolster LA’s freshwater supply but also dramatically reduce the pollution entering our rivers and coastal waters.
We’ve also seen success at both the local and state levels when it comes to reducing plastic pollution. Heal the Bay was instrumental in helping pass California’s plastic bag ban, and we’ve seen a notable drop in single-use plastic bags, especially now that a major loophole allowing thicker “reusable” plastic bags has finally been closed.
More recently, we supported local bans on expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) in Los Angeles, as well as ordinances that limit unnecessary foodware accessories—like utensils and napkins in to-go orders. Looking ahead, I’m particularly excited about pushing for reusable foodware mandates. So much of what we collect during beach cleanups is single-use plastic from food and beverages. Transitioning from disposables to reusables could significantly reduce that type of pollution.
W&B: Over the last few years, LA has seen an increase in the number of wildfires in the area. How do such fires affect the coastal and marine ecosystems, and what can be done to mitigate the impacts?
HTB: The 2025 LA wildfires were devastating, and I don’t think there’s a single person in the region who wasn’t personally affected or knows someone who was. As climate change intensifies, wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe—and while their impacts on homes, communities, and forests are well recognized, they also have real consequences for coastal and marine ecosystems.
When vegetation burns or fire retardants are used, soils can become overloaded with nutrients and destabilized, leading to increased erosion when it rains. That runoff flows through our watersheds into rivers and the ocean, potentially fueling harmful algal blooms (HABs). We’ve seen a major algal bloom on the Southern California coast in recent months, and while we don’t yet have definitive evidence connecting the fires to this event, excess nutrients from wildfire runoff may have played a role. The bloom has already harmed thousands of marine animals and is still ongoing.
Wildfires also increase the risk of toxic contamination in coastal waters. At Heal the Bay, we’ve tested water and sand for over 100 pollutants following the fires. While, according to our results, the short-term risk to human health is low, the long-term impact on marine life—who are exposed 24/7 and consume contaminated prey— is much more serious. The effects may take years to fully understand.
To mitigate these impacts, we need to reduce wildfire severity through climate resilience strategies and improve post-fire monitoring. Setting clear standards for water quality testing after wildfires can help determine when it’s safe to be in the water and how impacted wildlife will be.
Image courtesy of Lexy Silverstein
W&B: What is the impact of fashion on coastal ecosystems like LA’s? What role do platforms like Wolf & Badger, in supporting independent, ethical brands, hold in mitigating the impacts?
HTB: When I think about fashion’s environmental impact, the first thing that comes to mind is climate change. Fast fashion is resource-intensive and generates significant greenhouse gas emissions. Beyond that, much of it is made from synthetic, petrochemical-based fibers—essentially plastic made from fossil fuels.
These fibers shed every time clothing is worn or washed, releasing microplastics and microfibers into the air, soil, and water. Once in the environment, these particles act like sponges, absorbing harmful chemicals that can end up in our bodies. Microplastics have been found everywhere—from our bloodstreams to placentas—and the chemicals they carry have been linked to endocrine disruption, birth defects, and even cancer.
Supporting sustainable fashion—whether that’s buying from local, ethical brands or choosing secondhand—is a powerful way to reduce demand for fast fashion. Platforms like Wolf & Badger, which spotlight independent and responsible designers, help make those choices more accessible. Let’s make underconsumption cool again!
W&B: What’s next for Heal The Bay? Outside of beach cleanups, can you share more about the other programs or initiatives the organization is involved in?
HTB: Heal the Bay does a lot more than beach cleanups! We run the Heal the Bay Aquarium at the Santa Monica Pier, which is a great way for both locals and visitors to learn about Southern California’s coastal ecosystems.
This year marks our 40th anniversary, and we’re celebrating with a series of events highlighting four decades of ocean advocacy. Our work spans everything from K–12 field trips and public engagement events to community science programs, data-driven policy advocacy, and climate resiliency efforts. One initiative I’m especially excited about is preparing LA for a safe and low-waste Olympic Games in 2028. As always, volunteers are at the heart of everything we do—and we’d love for more folks to get involved.
Image courtesy of Heal The Bay
W&B: This article is due to be published on World Ocean Day - do you have a favourite way of connecting with the sea?
HTB: I’m an ocean girl through and through—I like to joke that I have saltwater in my veins. My favorite ways to connect with the sea are surfing and free diving. I didn’t learn to surf until I was an adult, even though I spent every summer body surfing as a kid. Now, surfing is my absolute favorite activity. I love feeling in sync with the waves. Free diving is another way I connect with the ocean—it’s like visiting another world. The ocean is truly magical, and I feel incredibly lucky to have a career dedicated to protecting it.
W&B: If you could encourage our audience to make one small change to protect our oceans, what would it be and why?
HTB: Whenever you need to replace something—whether it’s clothing, kitchenware, or toiletries—try to choose an option that’s a little better for the planet. That could mean something secondhand, plastic-free, or made by a local, sustainable business. Small choices add up over time.
And just as importantly: use your voice. Talk to your friends and family about protecting the ocean. Vote. Call your representatives. Advocate for change in your community. The ocean needs all of us speaking up for it.