Southern California ocean protections take effort October 1, 2011

California’s Fish and Game Commission voted four to one today in favor of an October 1, 2011 implementation date for the southern California marine protected areas approved last December. These underwater state parks will provide critically needed protections for coastal hot spots like south La Jolla, Laguna, Pt. Dume and Naples Reef.

Several recent studies underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive marine protected area system, like the one California is creating through the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA), to buffer against growing threats like climate change, habitat loss, and fishing pressure. A report to the United Nations warned of potential mass extinctions within our lifetimes if preventative action is not taken, and identified marine protected areas as a key solution. A NOAA study emphasized the benefits marine protected areas provide for people.

“Southern California's quality of life - and many of its jobs and businesses - rely on our coast and ocean. These protections can not come soon enough,” said Kaitilin Gaffney of Ocean Conservancy. “Global scientific consensus supports both the economic and environmental pay-offs of marine protected areas.”

“Thousands of south coast residents participated in the planning process for these marine protected areas, and dozens of community efforts are already underway to support education, research, and outreach needs,” said Karen Garrison of Natural Resources Defense Council.

The new marine protected areas were planned by local stakeholders during a two-year public process that spanned more than 50 public meetings and generated tens of thousands of community emails. The network was designed to protect sea life and habitats at biodiversity hot spots while leaving nearly 90 percent of the coast open for fishing (see a map of fishing areas left open). The new protected areas will improve access for recreation, study and education while boosting the overall health of California’s ocean.

For more information visit http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa or http://www.caloceans.org.