California Current Ecosystem (CCE)

The waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean that move south along the western coast of North America, beginning off southern British Columbia, flowing southward past Washington, Oregon and California, and ending off southern Baja California. The California Current is part of the North Pacific Gyre and brings cool waters southward. Additionally, extensive upwelling of colder sub-surface waters occurs, supporting large populations of whales, seabirds, phytoplankton, zooplankton, forage fishes, and important fisheries.