California's Channel Islands Marine Protected Area Expands

Environmental News Service
08/17/2007

SANTA BARBARA, California :: The federal government has added 112 square nautical miles to a network of marine protected areas surrounding the Channel Islands off Southern California.

The addition nearly doubles the area of protected underwater habitat, making it the nation's second largest after the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument.

The first half of the joint state-federal marine protected network was created by California in 2003. The additions extend the protected areas into federal waters three to six nautical miles offshore of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

"The Channel Islands marine zoning network is now the largest in the continental United States," said Daniel Basta, director of the National Marine Sanctuary Program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA.

"This action was developed through an eight year public process, coordinated closely with the state of California, the Pacific Fishery Management Council and NOAA Fisheries Service," said Basta.

"The countless community members who helped NOAA by providing scientific information, input and advice can be proud of this important conservation accomplishment," Basta said.

The Natural Resources Defense Council, NRDC, and The Ocean Conservancy say the move will help restore the area's ocean wildlife.

"We're seeing signs that the marine reserves already are succeeding," said Kate Wing, an ocean policy analyst at NRDC. "Now that the network is complete, we look forward to seeing even more and bigger fish in the future."

The effort to protect the Channel Islands began in 1999 when local sport fishermen noticed that large fish were becoming scarce in the area and asked the state and the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary for better protection.

"Over the years, thousands of Californians and people from around the world have voiced their support for protecting these incredible islands," said Greg Helms, Santa Barbara program director for the Ocean Conservancy. "It's gratifying to see this legacy come true."

Lying off the coast of Santa Barbara, Channel Islands waters are frequented by blue whales, sea lions, and dolphins.

The federal action adds nine new zones to the network - eight no-take marine reserves and one limited take marine conservation area.

In the marine reserves all extractive activities are prohibited. In the marine conservation area, commercial and recreational lobster fishing and recreational fishing for deep water species are allowed.

The National Academy of Sciences, the Pew Ocean Commission and the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy have all recommended that the United States safeguard key habitats and marine wildlife with protected areas.

California is in the process of creating a network of marine protected areas off its entire coast under the state Marine Life Protection Act.

When this network is in place, fishing will be limited in 22 percent of the Channel Island sanctuary waters through 11 marine reserves and two marine conservation areas.

Fishing in accordance with state and federal regulations will be allowed in the remaining 78 percent of the sanctuary.