California’s network of 124 Marine Protected Areas is ready for its 10 year review

California’s Coastal Treasures

10 years and counting for California’s network of Marine Protected Areas.

California’s Marine Life Protection Act became law in 1999 and was implemented regionally from 2004 to 2012 through an inclusive public-private partnership that involved stakeholders, science advisors, natural resource managers and policymakers. The MLPA called for a scientifically designed network of Marine Protected Areas which by 2012, included approximately 16% of state waters in 124 marine protected areas, 59 of which are fully protected no-take Marine Protected Areas along California’s more than 1,100-mile coastline.

• While State Marine Park is one classification of MPA in California, most of the MPAs in California are not parks. Marine Protected Areas often protect representative habitats as opposed to the unique landscapes protected by parks.

• Unlike the California State Park system, California’s MPAs were designed to work as part of a larger ecological network.

• Although MPAs welcome visitors for a variety of purposes (including recreation, scientific study, cultural practices and in some cases recreational and commercial consumptive use), they are primarily set aside for their ecological function, including benefits to species, habitats and the wider ecosystem.

You can find detailed information of all marine parks here.

Click on the map to learn about Southern California Marine Protected Areas.

Is fishing and the take of marine life allowed?

Fishing and the take of marine life such as shellfish or seaweed is allowed in about half of California’s marine protected areas. Each type or kind of marine protected area has different regulations; inside state marine parks, sportfishing is encouraged, but commercial fishing is prohibited. In state marine reserves, fishing is not allowed. It’s best to go to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website at dfg.ca.gov/mlpa to learn about the specific rules for each marine protected area.

Is anchoring and transit allowed in MPAs?

Boats are allowed to anchor and transit through an MPA, however, fishing gear may not be deployed in marine reserves or other MPAs that prohibit fishing for the species you have onboard.

Decade management review

California reviews its MPA network every 10 years to inform the MPA Management Program, with the first review set to occur in December.

Goals of the Marine Life Protection Act

1. To protect the natural diversity and abundance of marine life, and the structure, function and integrity of marine ecosystems.

2. To help sustain, conserve and protect marine life populations, including those of economic value and rebuild those that are depleted.

3. To improve recreational, educational and study opportunities provided by marine ecosystems that are subject to minimal human disturbance, and to manage these uses in a manner consistent with protecting biodiversity.

4. To protect marine natural heritage, including protection of representative and unique marine life habitats in California waters for their intrinsic value.

5. To ensure that California’s Marine Protected Areas have clearly defined objectives, effective management measures and adequate enforcement and are based on sound scientific guidelines.

6. To ensure that the state’s Marine Protected Areas are designed and managed, to the extent possible, as a network.