On August 12, 2026 the Fish and Game Commission 

• Received recommendations from the California Ocean Protection Council on the MPA Petitions. CDFW submitted their initial recommendations in April and 

• Received recommendations from CDFW on the five Tribally-led Petitions. CDFW’s recommendations for all Petitions can be found here.

• Received a presentation from CDFW addressing Questions 14 and 16 from the Final Evaluation Framework for 2023 Marine Protected Area Bin 2 Petitions Approved August 14, 2025.  Question 14 reads Does the proposed change provide more equitable access opportunities (e.g., fishing, educational, and/or other recreational opportunities) for traditionally underserved or marginalized communities?  Question 16 reads Is the proposed change consistent with the CFGC Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy?

​

Petitions currently being reviewed (maps of areas are available in the links provided below).

​​

Tribally led Petitions

​​

• Chitqawi SMCA – Petition 2023-19MPA_AM.

  • Submitted by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians (SYBCI). Designates a new SMCA in Estero Bay named Chitqawi SMCA with no take other than a tribal take exemption for SYBCI.

  • Both CDFW and OPC recommend denying the Petition

​​

• Point Buchon SMCA – Petition 2023-20MPA_AM.​

  • Submitted by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians (SYBCI). Establish Co-Management at Point Buchon SMCA, Change the Name, and Add a Tribal Exemption for SYBCI at Point Buchon SMCA, and Change the Boundary at Point Buchon SMR.

    • ​Co-Management:  CDFW recommends supporting co-management outside the formal MPA Petition Process

    • Adjusting northern boundary of CDFW Point Buchon State Marine Reserve (SMR):  CDFW and recommend denying

    • Rename Point Buchon SMCA:  CDFW recommends granting in concept, while OPC recommends granting.

    • Tribal take exemption:  CDFW and OPC recommend granting. 

​​​​

• Pyramid Point SMCA – Petition 2023-21MPA_AM1.

  • ​Submitted by the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation.  Removes allowance for recreational take of true smelt in Pyramid Point SMCA and retain the existing tribal exemption for Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation; change northern boundary from the official California/Oregon state line (42°N) to align with the landside surveyed border (41°59’55”N).

    • ​True smelt – CDFW and OPC recommend granting

    • Change northern boundary – CDFW and OPC recommend denying

​​

• ​​Point Sal SMCA – Petition 2023-28MPA-AM2

  • ​Submitted by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and co-sponsored by Northern Chumash Tribal Council.  Designates a new SMCA (9.18 sq mi) around Point Sal in central California with allowance for recreational take of finfish by hook-and-line from shore and for take incidental to mission-critical operations at Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB); consult with tribes to identify a traditional tribal name for the new MPA.

    • ​CDFW supported this but recommend with an Alternative Pathway the non-regulatory request to advance co-management.  OPC recommended the Petition be granted.

​​

• ​​Mishopshno SMCA - Petition 2023-29MPA-AM2.

  • ​Submitted by NRDC, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, and Environmental Defense Center. Designates new tribal co-management SMCA that allows take by members of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indian tribe members using hand-based equipment and allows recreational take of finfish from shore using hook-and-line

    • ​CDFW supported this but recommend with an Alternative Pathway the non-regulatory request to advance co-management.  OPC recommended the Petition be granted.

​​

​​​Non-tribal Petitions

​

• Nine SMCAs – Petition 2023-14MPA

  • Submitted by the California Sea Urchin Commission. This would allow commercial take of sea urchins in 9 SMCAs.

    • CDFW and OPC recommend denying.

​

• Footprint, Gull Island, Santa Barbara SMRs – Petition 2023-15MPA-AM

  • Submitted by a commercial fisherman.  This would reclassify 3 SMRs in the Northern Channel Islands as SMCAs to allow either limited take of highly migratory species and possession of coastal pelagic species, or the take of pelagic finfish via six gear combination options. 

    • ​CDFW and OPC recommend denying.

​​

• ​​Stewart’s Point and Bodega Head SMRs - Petition 2023-16MPA

  • ​Submitted by Bodega Bay Fisherman's Marketing Association.  This would reclassified  Stewart's Point and Bodega Head SMRs as SMCAs to allow commercial take of salmon by trolling.

    • ​CDFW and OPC recommend denying.

​​

• ​​Santa Barbara Channel MPAs – Petition 2023-18MPA

  • ​Submitted by Ocean Conservancy. This would modify allowed uses of the following:  Vandenberg and Point Conception SMRs, Kashtayit and Campus Point SMCAs, and San Miguel Island and Anacapa Island Special Closures

    • ​CDFW and OPC recommend denying.

​​

• ​​Monterey MPAs – Petition 2023-23MPA-AM

  • ​Submitted by Giant Giant Kelp Restoration.  This would modify regulations in Pacific Grove Marine Gardens SMCA, Edward F. Ricketts SMCA, and Carmel Bay SMCA to prohibit recreational and commercial take of finfish for diver safety when kelp restoration activities are occurring; allow unlimited commercial and recreational urchin culling in these three MPAs, as well as in a portion of Point Lobos SMR; designate Tanker's Reef as new SMR; other proposed actions to facilitate kelp restoration.

    • ​CDFW and OPC recommend denying.

​​

• ​​Laguna Beach No-take SMCA – Petition 2023-24MPA-AM

  • ​Submitted by the Laguna Bluebelt Coalition.  This would extend the Laguna Beach no-take SMCA southern boundary to the southern border of city of Laguna Beach, which will require modification of northern boundary of Dana Point SMCA.

    • ​CDFW and OPC recommend denying.

​​

• ​​Anacapa Island SMCA – Petition 2023-27MPA-AM

  • ​Submitted by Environmental Defense Center.  This would Amend existing Anacapa Island SMCA or Special Closure with one of three options to best protect eelgrass meadows while allowing for community access.  

    • ​CDFW recommends denying all proposed actions. OPC recommends modifying the regulations at Anacapa Island SMCA to prohibit the deployment of lobster traps shallower than 50 feet.

​​

• ​​Duxbury Reef SMCA – Petition 2023-32MPA

  • ​Submitted by Environmental Action Committee of West Marin.  This would Change Duxbury Reef SMCA to an SMR, extend the southern boundary further south, and extend the northern boundary to the Double Point Special Closure.  

    • ​CDFW and OPC recommend denying reclassification into a no-take SMR while conceptually support expansion of the boundaries provided it does not restrict existing commercial or recreational take allowances beyond new intertidal protections in the expansion area.

​​

• ​​Statewide MPAs – Petition 2023-33MPA_AM

  • ​Submitted by Environmental California Research and Policy Center of West Marin.  This would designate one new MPA and expand boundaries at six existing MPAs; add new take allowance at Point Dume SMCA.  The existing MPAs include:   Cabrillo SMR, Natural Bridges SMR, Point Conception SMR, South Point SMR, Gull Island SMR, Point Dume State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA), and Pleasure Point SMCA (proposed new MPA).

    • ​CDFW recommends denying all actions under the Petition.  

    • OPC recommends the following:

      • Approve proposed expansion of Point Dume SMCA, but deny proposed additional take allowance in Point Dume SMCA. Approve a smaller expansion of Point Conception SMR.

      • Deny proposed expansion of Natural Bridges SMR, Cabrillo SMR, South Point SMR, or Gull Island SMR.

      • Deny proposed designation of a new SMCA at Pleasure Point.

​​

• ​​​Point Buchon SMCA & Farnsworth SMCAs – Petition 2023-34MPA

  • ​Submitted by Environmental California Research and Policy Center and Azul of West Marin.  This reclassify Point Buchon SMCA as an SMR and modify allowed uses at Farnsworth Onshore and Offshore SMCAs. 

    • ​CDFW and OPC recommend denying all actions under the Petition.