Marine Reserves Come to the Farallones

Brandts Cormorant. Photo: MojosCoast.

By Bob Wilson

Federal sanctuaries, such as the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, serve to protect marine areas.  They protect against oil and gas exploration, monitor improper discharges, and preserve marine wildlife and habitat.  However, state waters overlap with federal sanctuary waters, and states have a significant role in these waters.  Regulation of fishing in state waters is the responsibility of the state.

In California, the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) of 1999 provided for a process to improve the existing array of marine protected areas (MPAs) with an overall concept of ecosystem-based management.  The MLPA provides for the California Fish and Game Commission to make decisions about MPAs. Three types of MPAs, each with different rules about what activities can or cannot be done within each area, were set out by the MLPA.

Marine Reserves are no-take areas where all fishing is prohibited.

Marine Parks are areas where recreational fishing is allowed.

Marine Conservation Areas are places of lesser protection where restrictions may exist for certain species.

MPAs are seen as a valuable tool in a larger toolbox of marine conservation measures.  Some of the benefits MPAs may provide include:

Baseline Information. By making designated sites off limits to human activities such as fishing, MPAs can provide researchers with important baseline information to measure human impacts on the rest of the marine environment.

Protection of Habitats. MPAs can act to protect sensitive or unique habitats by providing protection against the removal of animals or structure deemed critical for ecosystem habitat.

Protection of Resident Fish and Wildlife. MPAs can be useful for management of some resident fish stocks.  No-take areas for fish that spend most of their life in one locale, or use a single locale for spawning, allows for the growth of larger, older fish that often produce more offspring than the younger smaller female fish. 

Wildlife Observation.  Finally, MPAs create a kind of underwater park providing an area where divers may observe fish and other sea life, free of fishing and other activities that may interfere with their enjoyment of the marine environment. 

The first area of the state to be analyzed and decided upon was the South Central coast from Pigeon Point south to Cambria.  The process took from 2004 to 2007.  A series of reserves were established and can be found here.

The next area was the North Central Coast study region that extended from Pigeon Point north to Point Arena and included the Farallon Islands.  The process began in May 2007 with the establishment of the North Central Coast Regional Stakeholder Group (NCCRSG). 

The NCCRSG was comprised of 45 individuals representing a wide diversity of interests such as conservation, commercial fishing, recreational fishing, governments, native tribes, divers, recreation and the like.  During the process, data and information about the region and the resources were compiled. 

After 10 months of negotiations, an Integrated Preferred Alternative proposal (IPA) was created.  The IPA proposes 21 MPAs, three marine managed areas and six special closures.  The area covers approximately 153 square miles or about 20 percent of state waters within the region. 

The MPAs have different proposed restrictions with many prohibiting take of all living marine resources, some allowing take of salmon and some take of abalone.

What was new to this region’s approach was the consideration of Special Closure Areas (SCAs) as a resource tool.  This concept was championed by GFNMS primarily for the protection of seabirds.  Scientific studies have shown that if seabirds are disturbed in their nesting areas, they can abandon their nests and other birds may refuse to nest there.  Rather than establish traditional marine reserves and prohibit fishing activities only, a SCA can prohibit all entry including recreational boating, low flying aircraft and persons approaching on foot. 

There are six SCAs proposed.  The restrictions vary from prohibiting activity from 300 feet for some areas to 1,000-foot restrictions.  The first is at the Pt. Reyes Headlands where there are more than 40,000 nesting birds.  The next is south on the Marin Coast at Pt. Resistance with a bird colony size of 16,000.  The next area is Stormy Stack, near Double Point at Pt. Reyes, that also has a colony size of 16,000.  The next mainland site is at Devil’s Slide to protect the Murre restoration site on egg rock.

Of course, everyone realized that the Farallon Islands were special.  Some of the largest Marine Reserves were established there.  The basis was to protect forage fish for seabirds and marine mammals.  In addition, some special closures were adapted.

The process allowed for modification and strengthening of current FWS regulations.  With involvement by stakeholders such as fishermen and wildlife operators, it was agreed that there would be a 300-foot closure prohibiting all entry on all but the east side of the southeast island, which would be partially open from Sept. 14 through December 1 of each year. 

In the North Farallon Islands, a large Marine Reserve was established in the North East quadrant of state waters surrounding the islands.  In addition, to protect the threatened Steller Sea Lion, which uses the North Farallon Island, a 1000-foot permanent year-round closure would be established, with 300-foot closures around the two areas at the Isle of St. James. 

In short, establishing these areas has been a lengthy, frustrating and hard fought process.  Resource users wanted few restrictions on their current activities, while scientists examined the issues using biological factors with little regard for socioeconomic factors.  Other interests sought greater protection.  Thus, the current plan is still a compromise. 

The matter is now before the California Fish and Game Commission, and while the regulatory process moves forward, there are groups that are seeking even further compromise.  Currently, those in the environmental community, while not entirely satisfied with the IPA, are urging that it not be weakened any further. 

Now is the time to email or write the Fish & Game Commission urging them to adopt the IPA without any further compromise or amendments.  Pre-printed postcards to the Commission are available in the FMSA offices, but individual letters are preferred.  You can also visit http://www.caloceans.org for more information, sample letters and email forms.

 

All photos: MojosCoast