SBMM is pleased to present “The Blue Blind Spot: The Most Important Infrastructure Project That No One Is Funding” as part of its September Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series. The program will feature Chris Ragland, founder and executive director of Sea League, for a thought-provoking talk on ocean access, stewardship, and the importance of building meaningful connections between coastal communities and the marine environments that surround them on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the museum. SBMM members are invited to a pre-lecture reception from 6:15–6:45 p.m.
Tickets: Free for Navigators Circle members, $10 for SBMM members, $20 for the general public, and $5 for students and educators with valid school ID or email. For reservations, visit sbmm.org, email reservations@sbmm.org, or call (805) 456-8750.
In his presentation, Ragland will explore the idea that nature connection should be treated not simply as a charitable cause, but as essential public infrastructure. Drawing on Sea League’s work creating immersive ocean experiences that cross economic lines and bridge neighborhoods, he will examine how direct connection to the sea can cultivate future stewards, scientists, entrepreneurs, and the workforce needed for a thriving blue economy.
The talk will focus on the Santa Barbara Channel as one of the most ecologically significant marine environments on the planet, while also highlighting the reality that many people living along the surrounding coastline have never meaningfully experienced it. Ragland will discuss what is possible when ocean fluency is built at scale and how that vision could strengthen marine conservation, workforce development, community resilience, and the long-term health of the coastlines on which society depends.
“There is no institutional infrastructure that normalizes ocean immersion for coastal communities,” said Ragland. “This fragmented familiarity produces fragmented stewardship. You can’t build a coalition broad enough to protect something that most of your community has never had the chance to experience.”
Chris Ragland is the founder and executive director of Sea League, a Santa Barbara organization innovating how youth connect to the ocean. A waterman-turned-social entrepreneur, he brings together a decade of experience as a surf coach, lifeguard, and kayak guide in Channel Islands National Park with leadership in environmental advocacy and public engagement. As Creative Director at FinalStraw, he helped advance efforts that eliminated 300 million single-use straws. He has also collaborated with NOAA and California’s Ocean Protection Council on public engagement and served on the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council.
“Chris Ragland brings an inspiring and necessary perspective to the conversation about the future of our coast,” said SBMM Executive Director Dean Noble. “His work challenges us to think differently about who has access to the ocean, why that matters, and how those connections shape the next generation of marine stewards.”
Through the Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series, SBMM continues to bring leading voices in ocean science, maritime history, conservation, and coastal culture to the Santa Barbara community, reinforcing the museum’s mission to illuminate our rich connections with the sea through education and storytelling.
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