New Marine Protected Areas Safeguard Northern California's Iconic Coastal Areas
“Underwater parks” will boost the region’s environmental and economic health
Samantha Murray, Ocean Conservancy, 415-823-5577
04/28/2010
SACRAMENTO, CA, April 28, 2010 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- On May 1, California’s underwater state park system will expand to include north central coast hot spots like Point Reyes Headlands, Bodega Head, the Farallon Islands, and Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. The science-based marine protected area network, which extends from Point Arena to Pigeon Point, is designed to restore sea life and protect habitat while leaving almost 90% of the coast open for fishing.
The north central coast network, approved last August by the Fish and Game Commission, creates 21 marine protected areas, 3 marine management areas and 6 special closures. Eighty-six square miles (11 percent) of state waters have been designated as fully protected marine reserves.
This marks the latest step in a five-stage process to implement the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA), which requires the state to develop a system of marine protected areas down the entire 1,100 mile coastline. California is the first state in the country to propose such a comprehensive plan to manage its marine resources. The MLPA planning process is well underway in the far north and south coasts, with statewide implementation expected by 2011.
“We need a healthy ocean for a healthy economy and environment, but our coastal waters face threats that require visionary action,” said Karen Garrison of Natural Resources Defense Council. “The Marine Life Protection Act allows us to create a legacy of healthy, resilient oceans for our kids and grandkids.”
The plan received support from diverse interests, including marine scientists. Several new studies released at February’s American Association for the Advancement of Sciences Conference confirmed the effectiveness of marine reserves, citing success stories from the Channel Islands and Great Barrier Reef to show that ocean habitat protection benefits both fish and fishermen.
“This new research confirms what a lot of us suspected all along, well designed networks of marine protected areas can be more than the sum of its parts" said Dr. Lance Morgan of Marine Conservation Biology Institute. “The efforts by local stakeholders to design this marine protected area network will pay off in the long run with a healthier coastal ecosystem.”
The new marine protected areas will be monitored by scientists as part of the most comprehensive study ever done of California’s coastal ocean. Researchers are in the water now collecting baseline information, and will combine new and historical data to track the results of the new protections.
“A decade ago we had a vision to create the nation’s first state-wide network of marine protected areas here in California,” said Samantha Murray of Ocean Conservancy. “These new protections extend our stewardship of California’s land to its sea.”
For more information, including scientific background and maps of the new north central coast MPA network, visit to www.caloceans.org. A full list of the new MPAs can be found at www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/nccmpas_list.asp.
CONTACT:
Samantha Murray,
Ocean Conservancy,
415-823-5577,
smurray@oceanconservancy.org
Karen Garrison,
NRDC,
415-875-6100,
kgarrison@nrdc.org
Lance Morgan,
Marine Conservation Biology Institute,
707-938-3214,
lance@mcbi.org
