Marine Life Protection Act to go into effect

The Monterey County Herald
09/05/2007

California's Marine Life Protection Act will go into effect from Pigeon Point to Point Conception Sept. 21 with establishment of a Central Coast Region, composed of 29 marine protected areas from San Mateo County to Santa Barbara County. The Marine Protected Area designation adds protections that include long-term safe havens for rockfish and other bottom fishes, migration corridors for salmon, and a diverse environment that abalone, kelp and numerous marine mammals and seabirds need to survive.

State Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman noted that the Central Coast is the first of five regions that will eventually lead to a network of Marine Protected Areas along the state's 1,100-mile coastline.

Regulations for the areas and detailed maps are provided by the state Department of Fish and Game at www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/mlpa/ccmpas_list.html