Ocean waters are constantly on the move. The California Current moves 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 and important fisheries. Scientists in most of all of the divisions at the SWFSC work on species in the California Current. For studies on the status of fishes, fish habitat, socio-economics and fishery-oceanography, visit the Fisheries Ecology Division, Environmental Research Division, and Fisheries Research Division. For studies on marine mammals, seabirds and marine turtles, visit the Protected Resources Division.