Since its inception, Coastkeeper has employed strategic legal action and regulatory advocacy to promote policies that are protective of our natural resources, challenging the practices of those who violate our environmental laws. The landmark legal and regulatory victories Coastkeeper has achieved have helped to shape clean water policy throughout San Diego and the nation. Having engaged in so many successful legal and regulatory campaigns, Coastkeeper is now often able to leverage its reputation to promote critical clean water policies without resorting to adversarial tactics. Through the relationships we have developed at the local, state and national levels, elected officials and regulatory agencies often view Coastkeeper as an invaluable resource in the effort to restore our waterways.
San Diego Coastkeeper's landmark legal and regulatory victories have greatly reduced the amount of pollution reaching San Diego's waters. Coastkeeper's historic legal victory over Southwest Marine shipyard, and settlements with other shipyards, auto dismantlers, local municipalities, and Caltrans have changed the way that business is done in San Diego. Coastkeeper partners with local environmental organizations, the California Coastkeeper Alliance, and the international Waterkeeper Alliance to tackle regulatory and policy issues of regional, statewide and national significance.