California beaches and the fight for equitable coastal access

California’s beaches draw millions of visitors every year, but for plenty of people reaching the shore is still far harder than it ought to be.

Although laws guarantee public access to the coast, many Californians are still kept off the sand by physical obstacles, limited transport options, and uneven access.

And the hurdles are not limited to parking costs or how far it is to the beach. They are also tied up with culture and history, patterns of investment, and whether people feel they genuinely belong.

More than a legal right

The California Coastal Act marks its 50th anniversary this year. It set out the public’s right to reach and enjoy California’s coastline, and it remains among the strongest coastal protection laws in the United States.

Even so, researchers report that many communities are still shut out from the benefits the coast can provide. Their findings indicate that structural barriers often stop historically marginalised groups from enjoying ocean spaces.

That exclusion can reduce wellbeing and reinforce a cycle that worsens inequality and harms public health. A team led by scientists from the University of California, Santa Cruz, working with grassroots organisations, surveyed nearly 1,700 people.

Participants were approached in laundrettes, at neighbourhood events, in markets, and at coastal access points. Some of the surveys were completed online.

Unequal coast access

The research looked at locations from San Francisco to Ventura that the California Environmental Protection Agency classifies as disadvantaged.

Timothy Frawley at UC Santa Cruz said the contrasts are stark.

“While California prides itself on being a pretty diverse state, it is painfully evident to anyone who has spent much time on the coast how segregated these areas remain,” said Frawley.

“And the vast differences in resources and infrastructure between parks, protected areas and beaches next to wealthy communities, and those next to more disadvantaged or underserved communities.”

“This social division has a huge impact on the kind of recreational activities people pursue and – as is particularly relevant to the Monterey Bay Area – on the kind of career paths they perceive as relevant.”

Beach hospitality matters

The researchers found that many Indigenous, Black, brown, and immigrant communities relate to the ocean in ways that differ from what is typically reflected in Western conservation policies.

The study also highlights long-standing policies including redlining, discriminatory housing practices, and unequal investment in coastal neighbourhoods.

Together, those decisions influenced who lived close to the shoreline, who visited frequently, and who developed enduring ties to the ocean.

Jillian Lyles at Stanford University described why access involves far more than getting there.

“When communities are excluded from coastal spaces across generations, they don’t just lose recreational opportunities,” said Lyles.

“They lose opportunities to cultivate the kinds of relationships with the ocean that foster belonging, community, cultural identity, and care.”

Access as a right

The researchers argue that the way the coast is managed also reflects who has historically had a seat at the table.

The study says ocean-related spaces-ranging from marine science conferences to surfing communities-are still dominated by white men and coastal elites.

The authors contend that wider representation could strengthen both decision-making and long-term stewardship.

Earlier research on managing natural resources backs this up, repeatedly linking equity to more robust long-term sustainability.

“There is an entire body of research that demonstrates bringing in diverse individuals and their knowledge can lead to creative solutions to tricky problems,” said Professor Corey Garza at the University of Washington.

“Additionally, individuals may become more engaged with coastal management and its outcomes when they see members of their own community actively involved in the process.”

A variety of experiences

The study identified clear contrasts between beach access points used by wealthier communities and those serving nearby under-resourced neighbourhoods.

Asilomar State Beach near Pacific Grove, for example, has boardwalks, walking trails, and regular park-staff presence.

At Salinas River State Beach, visitors are more likely to find overflowing rubbish bins, poor water quality, and limited staffing.

Researchers say these conditions shape how often people go to the coast.

They can also influence whether visitors see those places as welcoming public spaces. The study further found that gender can affect access to coastal activities.

“Our immigrant focus group participants discussed how in their cultures, outdoor and ocean activities are not considered feminine or appropriate for women,” said Emma Gee at UC Santa Cruz.

“We found in our study, and can confirm through our lived experiences as oceangoers, that coastal activities like surfing, fishing, and diving are dominated by men in California as well.”

Steps toward change

The researchers say many barriers could be reduced through straightforward policy changes.

Their proposals include cutting parking charges, providing community vouchers or free parking, and extending affordable public transport to beaches.

They also call for support for Tribal co-stewardship of coastal areas, the use of equity audits, and cultural-competency training for local staff.

Nancy Faulstich, executive director of Regeneración, Pajaro Valley Climate Action, said this kind of investment could make a real difference.

“Without targeted investment and policy reforms designed to level the playing field and address the needs and values specific to local communities, many ocean areas will continue to be unknown, underused, and therefore undervalued,” noted Faulstich.

“For years, I’ve heard stories that despite the closest access point being less than 20 minutes by car, many people in Watsonville have never even been to the beach.”

An unfinished promise

California is frequently praised for safeguarding its coastline. Researchers argue, however, that protection on its own falls short if the public cannot fully benefit from those safeguarded places.

“The state of California has some of the strongest coastal protections anywhere in the country, and even the world,” said Professor Katherine Seto at UC Santa Cruz.

“But the promises of those policies remain unfulfilled while structural inequities continue to create such huge disparities in peoples’ ability to benefit from the coast based on their income and identity.”

The team also believes California’s situation offers lessons beyond the state. In many parts of the United States, coastal gentrification and widening income gaps are reshaping communities.

As cities expand and waterfront property values rise, it is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore questions of fair coastal access.

The full study was published in Nature Communications.