Dr. Mike Beck is a Senior Scientist with the Marine Initiative of The Nature Conservancy and a research associate at the University of California Santa Cruz. He works in the interface between marine science and policy. His present work includes research on (i) marine regional planning, (ii) the nursery role of near shore habitats such as kelp forests, (iii) tools for ecosystem-based management and land-sea integration, (iv) the conservation and restoration of near shore habitats including shellfish reefs and beds, and (v) marine proprietary rights including the lease and ownership of submerged land.