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Heal the Bay, along with other organizations and agencies, is participating in the process to extend the state's network of Marine Protected Areas into Southern California. Find out how MPAs are a valuable tool for both ecosystem protection and fisheries management.
Overview
Southern California’s marine ecosystems are stressed and continue to face many threats such as polluted runoff, marine debris, habitat destruction, and overfishing. Kelp beds throughout the Santa Monica Bay have declined substantially since the early 1900s. Several fish stocks have crashed statewide, causing many fisheries to be closed or severely limited. The majority of fishing throughout the State occurs in Southern California - together, Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Counties account for over half the recreational fishing activity in California.
As a valuable tool for both ecosystem protection and fisheries management, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are likely to help replenish these depleted populations. MPAs have shown to be effective in parts of California, the Florida Keys, New Zealand, and other areas of the world.
What are MPAs and how do they work?
Marine Protected Areas have been scientifically proven to protect and enhance degraded ecosystems, including kelp forests and fish communities. They are basically areas of the ocean set aside as safehavens from fishing to protect and conserve marine life and habitat. There are three main types of marine protected areas: 1) State Marine Parks, which prohibit commercial fishing, but allow recreational fishing; 2) State Marine Conservation Areas, which allow limited commercial and recreational fishing; and 3) Marine Reserves, which completely prohibit the harvest of marine life and alteration of marine habitats.
Historic approaches to fisheries management have not adequately protected California’s fish stocks, as reflected by the decimated populations of rockfish, abalone, and other species. Contrary to traditional management strategies, which only control certain activities or protect marine life on a single-species basis, MPAs take an ecosystem-based approach by protecting marine habitats and the marine life that live within those habitats. MPAs, and specifically marine reserves protect sea life and their underwater homes in a way that regulations focused on one or two species cannot. By prohibiting or restricting fishing in certain areas of the sea, localized marine creatures within each MPA are given refuge.
As a result, marine life living within MPAs are often more diverse, abundant, and larger in size. Populations within MPAs can also seed neighboring waters where harvest is allowed. Additionally, larger animals, such as marine mammals and sharks can benefit from MPAs through increased availability of food.
How do MPAs affect us?
California’s coastal economy, largely driven by tourism, is valued at $43 billion. MPAs not only provide benefit to the marine ecosystem, but also the people who live in or visit our state’s coastal areas and those who depend on the state's coastal waters for work. California’s beaches and coastal waters draw millions of visitors to the ocean each year. These visitors, both locals and tourists, enjoy swimming, kayaking, scuba diving, wildlife viewing and many other activities which will benefit from MPAs.
What’s happening statewide?
The State has been working to institute MPAs along the California coast since the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) was passed in 1999. This law requires the establishment of a statewide network of MPAs to protect habitats and marine life populations. The MLPA process is guided by recommendations from scientists, resource managers, experts, stakeholders and members of the public.
Over the past six years the process has faced many obstacles. After two failed attempts, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced he would commit his administration to getting the job done. In this third iteration, the State has established a framework that includes extensive public participation, scientific advisors, a Blue Ribbon Task Force to facilitate implementing the law, and a public/private partnership to support the implementation efforts.
The State is also taking a regional approach to implement MPAs along the coast. The process began in the central coast (Pigeon Point in San Mateo County to Point Conception in Santa Barbara County) which resulted in the establishment of 29 MPAs, covering 18% of the coast in this region earlier this year. It has now moved to the north central Coast (Alder Creek in Mendocino County to Pigeon Point in San Mateo County), and will then move to the north coast, San Francisco Bay, and south coast, but the order each region will be addressed has not yet been determined. It is likely that the process will move south in the next few years.
How will this affect the southern California and the Santa Monica Bay?
Here in southern California, local groups including Heal the Bay are preparing for the MLPA process. We are working with other non-profit organizations and agencies as the state moves forward with developing a network of MPAs.
There is a clear need for MPAs in southern California, including the Santa Monica Bay. With over 50 million visitors each year, the Santa Monica Bay is a valuable asset to California’s economy. These visitors, both locals and tourists, enjoy swimming, kayaking, scuba diving, and many other activities.
However, the dolphins, whales, kelp forests and diverse coastal resources that draw visitors to the Santa Monica Bay face a multitude of stressors. Establishing MPAs within the Santa Monica Bay and throughout southern California will help protect these resources, benefiting the ecosystem, coastal enthusiasts, and regional fisheries. To learn more about MPAs, the MLPA process, and how to get involved, please visit the Marine Life Protection Act website.
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