Attending the EROS Training in Newport Beach

by J.J. Cruz, Wildlife Operations Specialist
July 02, 2025

About a month ago, Frankie and I attended the EROS (Environmental Response to Oil Spills) training in Newport Beach, California as part of our onboarding. The training is organized by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) in partnership with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

This three-day course covered a wide range of topics, including oil chemistry and composition, oil weathering, cultural and historical resources at risk, the ecological effects of oil spills, various cleanup methods, and more. It was also a fantastic opportunity to connect with colleagues from NOAA, CDFW, Newport Fire Department and Newport Police Department — people we may collaborate with during actual response efforts.

Since we traveled all the way to Newport Beach, we took the opportunity to visit two of our member organizations in the area:

Our first stop was at the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center, where we swapped out one of our strategically placed response trailers. These trailers are stocked with personal protective equipment (PPE) and other field gear to ensure a fast and efficient response in the event of an oil spill. The new trailer we installed is fully updated with fresh equipment and supplies.

On the last day of EROS training, we visited the Aquarium of the Pacific (AoP) to deliver field response equipment that will help improve their readiness and response times in the event of a spill. It was my first time at the aquarium, and Erin — along with Frankie, who used to work there — gave me a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility.

I especially enjoyed seeing the AoP amphibian enclosures and learning about their conservation work with the foothill yellow-legged frogs, including ongoing repopulation efforts.

One of the highlights of the visit was getting an up-close look at their sea lions. I even got to feed an 800-pound male named Parker! It was fascinating to see how the trainers use behavioral techniques not just for enrichment, but also for health exams and blood draws.