The Marine Life The Marine Life Protection ActProtection Act

andandMarine Protected AreasMarine Protected Areas

Of the Central CoastOf the Central Coastof Californiaof California

The MLPA InitiativeThe MLPA Initiative

Purpose: Improving life Purpose: Improving life in the Marine Protected in the Marine Protected

Areas.Areas.

6 Goals of the MLPA6 Goals of the MLPA

• To protect the natural diversity and To protect the natural diversity and abundance of marine life and to maintain abundance of marine life and to maintain the marine ecosystemsthe marine ecosystems

• To help sustain, conserve and protect To help sustain, conserve and protect marine life populations and rebuild those marine life populations and rebuild those that are depleted. This includes those of that are depleted. This includes those of economic value.economic value.

• To improve recreational, educational and To improve recreational, educational and study opportunities provided by marine study opportunities provided by marine ecosystems subject to minimal human ecosystems subject to minimal human disturbance. And to manage these to disturbance. And to manage these to protect biodiversity.protect biodiversity.

6 Goals of the MLPA, 6 Goals of the MLPA, cont.cont.• To protect marine natural heritage, To protect marine natural heritage, including protection of representative including protection of representative and unique marine habitats in California and unique marine habitats in California for their intrinsic value.for their intrinsic value.

• To ensure California’s MPAs have clearly To ensure California’s MPAs have clearly defined objectives, effective management defined objectives, effective management measures and adequate enforcement. And measures and adequate enforcement. And are based on sound scientific guidelines.are based on sound scientific guidelines.

• To ensure that the MPAs are designed and To ensure that the MPAs are designed and managed as a network.managed as a network.

What are Marine Protected What are Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)?Areas (MPAs)?

• Areas designated to protect marine Areas designated to protect marine life and ecosystems.life and ecosystems.

• They include:They include:

state marine reservesstate marine reserves

state marine parksstate marine parks

state marine conservation areasstate marine conservation areas

• MPAs are assisting in the MPAs are assisting in the conservation of the marine life and conservation of the marine life and their habitats.their habitats.

MPAs allow forMPAs allow for• In marine reserves: boating, diving, In marine reserves: boating, diving, research, and education are allowed as long research, and education are allowed as long as the area is undisturbed and unpolluted.as the area is undisturbed and unpolluted.

• In state marine parks: recreational fishing In state marine parks: recreational fishing is allowed with restrictions for the is allowed with restrictions for the protection of marine life; commercial protection of marine life; commercial extraction is prohibited.extraction is prohibited.

• In state marine conservation areas: In state marine conservation areas: specified commercial and recreational specified commercial and recreational activities are allowed, including fishing activities are allowed, including fishing for certain species, fishing with certain for certain species, fishing with certain practices, and kelp harvesting. Research practices, and kelp harvesting. Research and education are also allowed. These and education are also allowed. These activities are allowed as long as the activities are allowed as long as the marine life is not compromised.marine life is not compromised.

Where are the Where are the MPAs?MPAs?

• The MPAs begin The MPAs begin at Pigeon Point at Pigeon Point and continue and continue south to Point south to Point Conception.Conception.

More information on MPAs and the MLPA in general

The Sardine was fished to the point of commercial extinction

The Market Squid supported the largest fishery in Monterey Bay

The Octopus population was affected by a small fishery on the Central Coast

These populations and others have begun to recover with strict fishery management and improved habitat conditions

Commercial Fishing has depleted many species’ populations

Shiner Surfperch

Kelp Bass

Recreational fishing Recreational fishing has also affected populationshas also affected populations

The

&

Two of the many species affected

Both of which are common recreational catches in California

OverfishingOverfishing

Abalone Mussels

Abalone face extinction due to overfishing and

disease

Overharvest, siltation and pollution have contributed to the

decline of mussels.

Too much is too muchToo much is too much

Pacific Angel Shark Bat Ray

Fished increasingly as their population decreased.

Popular with sport fishermen. Also, thought to have eaten large numbers of oysters and were killed for it by oyster farmers. Recently it was found that crabs killed the oysters and Bat Rays eat crabs.

Asian MarketsAsian Markets

California Sheephead Sea Cucumber

Small, pre-adult, usually female were sought for aquariums. Sheephead became a large share of the catches.

Fisheries need a permit to fish for Sea Cucumbers, but there is no limit of animals caught.

Sea Stars

Shrimp

Giant Kelp

PollutionPollution

It is also best to leave the sea stars and other marine life alone when visiting the sea shore.

Urban runoff, sludge, silt, sewage, and oil have devastating effects on marine life.

When we protect wetlands against development, we protect the homes of

many animals, including the

Sea Hare

and

Clam

Bycatch and Habitat Bycatch and Habitat DamageDamage

Wolf Eel

Tuna

Sought by purse seine and longlining fleets. Purse Seines catch unwanted fish and other animals. Longlines kill large numbers of sea turtles.

Rockhopper trawls damage the rocky reefs where fish and other animals live.

RockfishBig Skate

Some species of rockfish don’t breed until they are 20 years old and have very few young.

Big Skates live longer and produce fewer offspring

ReproductionReproductionCatching fish faster than they can reproduce

More species likely to benefit

The Marine Life Protection Act:

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/mlpa/pdfs/mp081506_full.pdf