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Marine Protected Areas

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The Problem

We all know that Southern California’s beaches are recognized around the world as some of the most beautiful, but unfortunately the abundance and diversity of the sea life in our coastal waters is often overlooked.

 

You can hardly open the newspaper these days without reading about problems with the world’s oceans—fish populations are dwindling, and sea levels are rising. For too long, our regional fisheries have not been protected by regulations necessary to keep them sustainable.  The result has been a global decline in fish stock, having hit the large predatory fish the hardest.  It is estimated that 95% of the large fish have disappeared from the ocean and that the seas may be devoid of sea life by the year 2048.  Along with these majestic fish, Southern California’s giant kelp forests are also vanishing.   

 

That is why scientists, governments and advocacy organizations like WiLDCOAST are working to create a network of Marine Protected Areas, or “underwater parks,” that would create comprehensive protection for California’s ocean.

 

Surfers, divers, beach goers and fishermen all enjoy the vibrant sea life of Southern California and for the sake of our economy and generations to come, we aim to keep it that way!

The Solution

With many of our fish stocks at historically low levels and damage to the overall marine environment becoming increasingly evident, it is time to create a network of Marine Protected Areas to give the ocean the protection it needs to recover and replenish. Researchers have determined that well designed and strategically placed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) would not only help rebound fish populations within the MPAs but also surrounding them.  We strive to work with the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative (MLPAI) to help design a science-based network of MPAs that will benefit our ocean, our economy and our future.

 

What is the MLPA?

The Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) was adopted in 1999 and it's the nation’s first state law requiring a comprehensive, science-based network of MPAs along the coast of California. The MLPA’s conservation goals focus on ecosystem protection, natural diversity and habitat protection. 

 

What are Marine Protected Areas?


Also know as MPAs, are areas of coastal ocean set aside to protect ocean life and habitat. Some people compare them to National Parks like Yellowstone or Yosemite, but underwater. Rather than try to manage single species, Marine Protected Areas take a holistic approach by protecting all the important marine life and linkages within the ecosystem.

 

For more information on the MLPA please check out our fact sheet below.

Successes

Thanks to the hard work of stakeholders, scientist and concerned citizens, the California Fish and Game Commission implemented the first significant network of protected areas (MPAs) in the Central Coast of California in September 2007  and in May 2010 in the North Central Coast.

 

More than 1100 square miles of the central coast is protected, with 8% in fully protected marine reserves, 10% allowing limited fishing and the remaining coast left open.

 

The coast of North Central California is now protected by a network of Marine Protected Areas at places like Point Arena, Salt Point, Sonoma Coast and Point Reyes. The network includes 21 marine protected areas designed to protect the region’s richest kelp forests, rocky reefs, canyons and sea life, while leaving almost 90 percent of the coast open to fishing.   


SUCCESS for Southern California!

 

On December 15th, 2010, it became official: The California Fish and Game Commission voted 3-2 in favor of adopting the Integrated Preferred Alternative (IPA) map for a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) along the Southern California coast. The IPA is a compromise plan that combines MPA proposals from fishermen, divers, conservationists and scientists. The network of MPAs stretch from Santa Barbara to the Mexican Border, and they will be part of a larger network of underwater parks called for by the Marine Life Protection Act.  


San Diego's new protections include: La Jolla, Swamis and the Tijuana River Mouth. Check out the rest of the spots by clicking on the map below. 

 

After more than two years of effort the California Fish and Game Commission implemented Southern California's new network of marine protected areas on January 1st, 2011. 

 

Find the nearest Marine Protected Area (MPA) with your smart phone or table! The Department of Fish and Game designed a web mapping application to help you identify the Marine Protected Areas nearest you. Click here for more information. 

 

Download the official  South Coast MPA guide by the Department of Fish and Game that will help you understand and learn more about Southern California's marine protected areas. Follow this link and click on "Full Booklet." 

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Additional Information

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Diane Castaneda
Program Coordinator: Wildlife Conservation

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