Scattering cremated remains into the ocean is a good way to honor a lost loved one for a variety of reasons. If you don’t want to board a vessel to scatter ashes at sea, witnessing a sea burial from the beach is also possible.
So, how do you scatter ashes at a California beach?
Here are a few words to help you as you plan to spread the ashes of your loved one at sea.
Contact the team at Burials at Sea if you are ready to have an ash scattering ceremony in Southern California.
Before you head to the beach to scatter cremated ashes of a loved one, there are several important factors to keep in mind.
First, consider the legal aspects of a sea burial and scattering ashes into the ocean as a final resting place for your loved one.
Here are some important things to keep in mind from a legal standpoint.
The answer to this question depends on what state you are in, as laws regarding the spreading of ashes vary state to state.
In California, for example, scattering ashes right at the beach is possible, but not always legal. If you wish to spread ashes from a California shore, here are the main questions and legal guidelines you'll want to operate within:
Who owns the land? In California, it is legal to scatter ashes on private land where you have obtained permission from the land owner.
How far are you from shore? This answer to this question makes it illegal to scatter cremated remains right on a public beach. The Federal Clean Water Act states that ashes can only be scattered at least 500 yards from shore.
Do you need a permit to scatter ashes? Yes, to scatter ashes in California, including at sea, you will need a permit. The permit is a California VS-9 Burial Permit and can be obtained from the county where the scattering will take place. The EPA must also be notified of the scattering within 30 days.
Can a container or urn be left behind? If you plan on leaving the urn behind in the environment, it must be a biodegradable urn. Urns or containers that do not naturally break down in the environment are not allowed to be left behind and must be removed.
As you can see, a lot of the legal aspects for releasing ashes into the Pacific Ocean from California come down to local rules and regulations.
You will need to download and fill out an "Authorization for Scattering Cremains" form and have a burial permit.
And importantly, as mentioned above, you must notify the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of your sea burial within 30 days of the service.
Ensuring that you are scattering ashes to sea legally can feel like a daunting task. That's why we recommend working with an experienced company, like Burials at Sea! We help to make sure your ceremony of spreading ashes of your loved one is done legally and meaningfully.
After you've figured out the legal aspects of a California sea burial, you'll need to prepare the cremated remains and coordinate appropriately with friends and family. Here are some recommendations for getting everyone together.
Here are a few steps you'll need to take to prepare for the sea scattering service:
Select the location you want to have the sea burial service and look into local rules and regulations for this type of memorial service as described above.
As mentioned above, you'll need to fill out an "Authorization for Scattering Cremains" form and have a burial permit. If you choose to reserve one of our Los Angeles area sea burial service options, you can bring those with you to the service.
Make sure you have the cremains in a suitable cremated remains container or cremation urn. We recommend choosing biodegradable urns for sea burials.
Decide what type of ceremony you want to have. If you choose to book Burials at Sea by Newport Landing, you have three options: Attended Scattering, Unattended Scattering, or Shore View Scattering.
Communicate the ceremony details to family and friends.
If you choose to have an attended scattering service, arrive prepared to be on a boat. If you choose an unattended service, follow the instructions detailed on our sea burial FAQ page to safely and legally ship your loved one's ashes to us. If you choose a shore viewing service, arrive prepared to witness the ceremony from a predetermined location on shore.
Sea burial services are meant to be meaningful. So, be intentional in your planning to ensure that the experience of your sea ceremony and the spreading of your loved one's ashes is a treasured memory.
If you'd like to spread ashes in Southern California with Burials at Sea by Newport Landing, contact us directly and we’ll help you properly and legally have a sea burial memorial service in the Pacific Ocean. We're happy to coordinate with you on all aspects of your sea burial service, including logistics and legal aspects.
