Catherine Breed Brings “Swim California” to Bodega Bay to Celebrate the Greater Farallones Hope Spot

Bodega Bay, CA — August 9, 2026 — As Catherine Breed arrives in Bodega Bay during her historic 900-mile Swim California journey, she will pause to celebrate one of the West Coast’s great conservation success stories—the Greater Farallones Hope Spot and the thriving marine ecosystems that show what can happen when nature is given the space and time to heal.

On Sunday, August 9 at 4 p.m. at Westside Regional Park and Campground, Catherine will join Mission Blue®, Greater Farallones Association, and Blue Frontier for a community gathering exploring the power of long-term ocean protection and what thriving marine ecosystems can teach us about resilience.

Each stop along Swim California is an opportunity to shine a light on the organizations and individuals protecting California’s coastline. Around Bodega Bay, decades of sanctuary protection have helped kelp forests, rockfish populations, and other marine life remain resilient even as nearby ecosystems have struggled. The Greater Farallones Hope Spot offers a powerful example of what the ocean can become when communities, scientists, and advocates work together to protect it.

“One of the most hopeful things we can learn from Bodega Bay is that when we protect the ocean and give it room to recover, nature can respond,” said Catherine Breed. “Mission Blue connects this extraordinary place to a global movement, Greater Farallones Association brings the science, education, and stewardship to life, and Blue Frontier helps turn that knowledge into public action. Together, they demonstrate exactly what Swim California is about: connecting people to the ocean and celebrating the communities working every day to protect it.”

“Catherine Breed’s Swim California journey is a powerful celebration of the people and places working to protect our shared ocean. As she swims through the Greater Farallones Hope Spot—and several other Hope Spots along the California coast—she is helping connect these extraordinary marine ecosystems and the communities committed to their care. Hope Spots remind us that meaningful ocean protection begins with local leadership, grows through collaboration, and can inspire action far beyond any one coastline. We are grateful to Catherine for using this remarkable journey to shine a light on the Greater Farallones and the urgent, hopeful work underway to safeguard California’s ocean for generations to come.” Shannon McIntyre Rake, Senior Hope Spots Program Manager, Mission Blue.

“Every mile of Catherine’s journey through the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary tells a story of conservation. She’ll swim past beaches monitored by generations of Beach Watch volunteers, through waters where we’re restoring bull kelp forests, and in one of the world’s most productive marine ecosystems. We’re proud to help share the stories of the people and partnerships working to protect this extraordinary place.” – Monika Krach, Executive Director, Greater Farallones Association.

Allez! Sports, the exclusive media partner for Swim California, is documenting conservation partners and local ocean stewards through a series of video stories, social media coverage, and the Zero Six Zero Tracker at 10 stops along Catherine Breed’s 900-mile journey. The storytelling reflects Swim California’s belief that connection comes before conservation—inspiring people to protect the coast by first connecting them to the communities fighting for it.

Swim California X Greater Farallones Hope Spot

📍 Location: Westside Regional Park and Campground
2400 Westshore Road
Bodega Bay, CA 94923

🕓 Date/Time: August 9, 2026, at 4 p.m.

🔗 RSVP Here: Event Brite

Additional speakers include:

• Shannon McIntyre Rake, Senior Hope Spots Program Manager, Mission Blue
• Maria Brown, Vice President, Greater Farallones Association Board of Directors 
• Natasha Benjamin, Associate Director, Blue Frontier 

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About Catherine Breed

Catherine Breed is a former NCAA champion, U.S. National Team swimmer, and internationally recognized open water athlete with record-breaking swims across Lake Tahoe, Monterey Bay, and the English Channel. Her passion for the ocean drives her mission to use endurance swimming as a force for environmental good.

About Mission Blue®

Mission Blue: Learn about Mission Blue’s global Hope Spot initiative, founded by legendary oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle to inspire action and support communities protecting places vital to ocean health. Explore what makes the Greater Farallones Hope Spot so special and how its designation helps elevate local conservation efforts, strengthen public awareness, and build momentum for lasting protection.

About Greater Farallones Association

Greater Farallones Association: Explore the nonprofit partner to Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries, supporting ocean and coastal foundational science, immersive education, and innovative restoration from San Mateo to Mendocino county. Learn how community science, habitat restoration, and youth education programs help sustain one of California’s most significant marine protected areas. 

About Blue Frontier

Blue Frontier builds solution-oriented citizen engagement to protect the ocean, coasts, and the human and wild communities that depend on them. The organization connects grassroots leaders, scientists, policymakers, and storytellers to strengthen public support for ocean conservation.

About Sea Dreamers

Sea Dreamers is a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting women to the ocean through adventure, education, and community. By creating opportunities for participation, leadership, and exploration, Sea Dreamers empowers individuals to pursue meaningful challenges while fostering a lifelong commitment to protecting marine environments.

About Allez! Sports

Allez! Sports is a global women’s sports media company building the next era of premium storytelling at the intersection of sport and culture, producing, distributing, and marketing original series, documentaries, live events, and weekly programming. As the exclusive media partner for Swim California, Allez! Sports will bring Catherine Breed’s historic expedition to audiences everywhere through premium multi-format storytelling and live coverage.

About Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Hope Spot

Just beyond San Francisco’s Golden Gate lies a globally significant ecosystem. Few ocean regions in the world host the diversity and abundance of marine life found in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS), a federal marine protected area. The unique combination of seafloor contours, ocean currents, and wind patterns, along with energy from the sun, triggers an explosion of life in these waters. Huge blooms of microscopic phytoplankton are consumed by zooplankton, which in turn provide a feast for fishes, seabirds, seals, whales, sharks, and humans. GFNMS protects this rich marine ecosystem through research, education, conservation, and stewardship programs. 

Follow the Journey

🌊 Website: Swim California

📸 Instagram: Catherine.Breed

🎥 Videos: Swim California Trailer

Meeting the Heroes Protecting California’s Coast: Swim CA Episode 1: The Guardians of Humboldt 

Media Contact

William Rinehart
Swim California Press Secretary

📧 RinehartW@gmail.com
📞 415.840.4168