Creating Underwater Parks

By Linda Hunter

Mixed school of fish. Credit: Cordell Bank

Over one hundred years ago, the American people set aside special places where wilderness would be protected – places like Yosemite, Yellowstone and Sequoia National Parks – places that reflect the character of a great nation - in order to preserve them for our children and grandchildren. Today, with the implementation of the Marine Life Protection Act, we have taken another important step in recognizing that such special places exist below the ocean’s surface as well and such places deserve our protection.

The first stage of the implementation of California’s landmark Marine Life Protection Act goes into effect on September 21st. The Department of Fish & Game Commission, in a unanimous decision, decided to adopt the final network of marine protected areas from Pigeon Point to Point Conception. The designation significantly increases the protection of marine life on the Central Coast and involved the public and other stakeholders in a two-year public process. The MLPA was designed to advance the conservation of marine resources for their long-term sustainable use while also enhancing outdoor recreation and ocean research opportunities along the coast.

There are three types of Marine Protected Areas: state marine reserve, state marine park, and state marine conservation area, each with different rules about what activities can or cannot be done within each. In general, marine reserves do not allow any type of extractive activities (including fishing or kelp harvesting), marine parks do not allow any commercial extraction, and marine conservation areas do not allow some combination of commercial and/or recreational extraction.

The 29 sites in the Central Coast region represent approximately 204 square miles (about 1% of state waters) and include:

• 15 State Marine Conservation Areas
• 13 “no-take” State Marine Reserves that total 85 square miles and
• 1 State Marine Recreational Managed Area – Morro Bay State Marine Recreational Management Area, where recreational fishing is limited or restricted

“These new marine protected areas will help us preserve some of California’s most biologically significant marine habitats while also allowing for recreational and commercial fishing” said Secretary for Resources Mike Chrisman, who noted that the central coast is the first of five regions that will eventually lead to a network of MPA’s along California’s 1,100 mile coastline.

We’re Next!

The second phase of the MLPA Initiative is currently underway to determine how California’ Northern Coast will be protected. One of the main goals of the MLPA is to provide an opportunity for scientists to understand our marine and coastal environment – a strategy recommended by both the Pew and U.S. Ocean Commissions. The MPAs must be based in science to achieve their goals of sustaining fisheries and protecting wildlife and habitats and the process must include the people who make a living from the ocean and put seafood on our plates – Pacific Coast Fishermen.

There are many ways to lend your voice to the MLPA process including attending meetings of the regional stakeholder group, workshops, and providing input on documents and MPA plans as they develop. To view a calendar of all the meetings, click here.

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You can also listen to the public meetings via the internet and submit your comments via email.

One hundred years from now, our own grandchildren and great grandchildren will thank us for the vision to protect our coastal waters and the precious wildlife that inhabit them.