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MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

MARINE PROTECTED AREAS. What Are MPAs ?. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are geographic areas designated to protect or conserve marine life and habitat State Marine Reserve (SMR): Also called “ No take” zones. The most restrictive type of MPA

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MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

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  1. MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

  2. What Are MPAs? • Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are geographic areas designated to protect or conserve marine life and habitat • State Marine Reserve (SMR): Also called “No take” zones. The most restrictive type of MPA • State Marine Park (SMP): Prohibits commercial fishing, but allows recreational fishing • State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA): Allows for specified commercial and recreational activities • State Marine Recreational Management Area (SMRMA): may restrict some recreational opportunities (often duck hunting areas). Only one in Central coast region • http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa

  3. Piedras Blancas Marine Protected Areas • Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve and Piedras Blancas State Marine Conservation Area • All fishing prohibited in Reserve; all but albacore and salmon in Conservation Area

  4. The Science of MPAs • Efforts to control overfishing by establishing limits have not been successful • Marine reserves have improved overall ocean health

  5. The Science of MPAs Older, larger fish produce more offspring. Protecting fish spawning grounds enhances fish populations.

  6. Anacapa Island Example • Comparison of marine reserve and fished areas • Lobsters 6 times more abundant in reserve • Kelp forest in reserve healthy; kelp forest stressed in fished areas • Lobsters keep urchins under control, restoring natural balance

  7. Benefits of marine reserves Fish species show: • Higher abundances • Increase in size • Increase diversity • Increase biomass

  8. History of California MPAs • Created pursuant to the California Marine Life Protection Act of 1999 • Requires a comprehensive science-based network of protected areas to foster healthy habitats and improve fishing

  9. California MPAs • MLPA plan to establish a statewide network by 2011 • Central Coast first area completed, after a lengthy process of community meetings involving stakeholders • North Central Coast just completed • Other areas except SF Bay now underway

  10. Central Coast MPAs • MPA size selected to provide safety for resident species • Offspring drift into adjacent areas, increasing the number of fish • Spacing designated to encourage repopulation

  11. Central Coast MPAs • 29 protected areas designated on the Central Coast • 13 marine reserves, 7.5% of region, prohibit fishing • 14 marine conservation areas, 10% of region, limit fishing

  12. Piedras Blancas MPA Unique Features • Elephant seal rookery • Other marine mammals • Extensive kelp forest • Deepwater rocky reef with large forage fish populations and shelter for rockfish • Near-pristine tidepool areas

  13. Piedras Blancas MPAs • Scientific monitoring to evaluate effectiveness is an important part of the MPA process • Monitoring includes catch and release fishing and netting, observation by submersibles, and intertidal monitoring stations • You may see monitoring devices or researchers from the bluffs

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