Marine Protected Areas on California’s North Central Coast (August 2009)

On August 5, 2009, the California Fish & Game Commission voted to place roughly 20 percent of the state’s north central coastal waters (or approximately 153 square miles) into 21 marine protected areas (MPAs) and 3 marine recreational management areas. The designated waters (map below) were identified through a CONCUR-facilitated multi-stakeholder process (DFG project home page).

The designation – taking place in the second of five study regions as part of the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) initiative – continues the state’s efforts to create a network of protected areas along the state’s extensive coast. Once completed, the MPAs will represent an unprecedented effort to help protect biological diversity, protect habitats (both healthy and degraded), aid in the recovery of depleted marine life populations, and promote recreational, scientific, and educational opportunities.

In the most recent round of deliberations, conducted between August 2007 and April 2008, CONCUR facilitated negotiations among 45 primary and alternate members of the MLPA North Central Coast Regional Stakeholder Group. The stakeholder group developed several alternative proposals that then served as the basis for the final Integrated Preferred Alternative developed by the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force and approved by the California Fish & Game Commission.

Based on the now-approved plan for the north central coastal waters, approximately 86 square miles of the new MPAs (11.2% of the study region) are designated as “no take” state marine reserves or state marine recreational management areas. Of the remaining 67 square miles, 2 areas are designated as state marine parks and 9 as state marine conservation areas, which allow different levels of take. Six small areas were included to increase protection for marine birds and/or marine mammals though special closures, which extend a few hundred yards offshore.

The MPAs will go into effect May 1, 2010. The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is tasked with the implementation of the MPA network and will work with its local partners to promote effective monitoring, management and enforcement of the new MPAs. Visit the DFG project website for more information.

See also: The Sacramento Bee: “Editorial: Sanctuaries will help fish, people” : http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/story/2092648.html