The 8th California Islands Symposium was sponsored by a diverse group of agencies, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions. Shauna Bingham, Christie Boser, Ann Bull, Tim Coonan, Carlos de la Rosa, Linda Farley, Kate Faulkner, Lynn Gamble, Ann Huston, Julie King, Annie Little, Yvonne Menard, Peter Sharpe, Scott Sillett, and John Ugoretz served on the Organizing Committee.

Several organizations provided generous financial support: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, The Seaver Institute, Catalina Island Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, National Park Service, the Smithsonian Institution, and the United States Navy.