Grunion Greeters

Project Mission: To monitor California beaches where grunion spawn. Observations are used by Pepperdine University researchers conducting studies on these most charismatic fish and to ensure their protection on the beach.

Grunion (Leuresthes tenuis) are restricted to a narrow distribution along coastal California and Baja. Concern over beach grooming practices and grunion eggs incubating beneath the surface of the sand during spawning season resulted in a scientific study in San Diego. A massive collaboration of concerned residents, scientists, agencies and organizations, and hundreds of volunteers effected significant and lasting change in beach grooming procedures in San Diego and now throughout CA. Additional studies continue to expand this work all along the coast of California. Coastal municipalities, beach managers, state parks, government agencies and environmental organizations are cooperating to ensure conservation of this remarkable fish and its sandy beach habitat.