The Port of San Diego is a self-supporting public benefit corporation establishe in 1962 by an act of the California State Legislature. The Port Act states that the policy of the State of California is to develop the harbors and ports of the State for multiple uses that benefit all the people of the State. The Act goes on to state that only a specially created district can effectively develop the harbors and port facilities by balancing all the competing interests for these valuable tidelands.