There are 124 Marina Protected Areas in California.

 

In each study region, an appointed regional stakeholder group developed MPA proposals that were reviewed and evaluated by a science advisory team, the California Department of Fish and Game, MLPA Initiative staff, and a policy-level blue ribbon task force. Based on these evaluations and public input, MPA proposals were then refined by the regional stakeholder group and presented to a blue ribbon task force, which made recommendations to the California Fish and Game Commission, the sole authority empowered to adopt and implement MPAs.

 

MPAs were designed through a collaborative public process. Regional stakeholder groups were formed that included people who were knowledgeable in the uses and/or resources of the planning region. Members included commercial and recreational anglers, tribal and government representatives, educators, researchers, and conservationists. Each group worked together to design MPA proposals for each region. Once the MPA proposals were completed, they underwent scientific and policy review and were then forwarded to the California Fish and Game Commission for adoption and implementation.

 

MPAs and the MLPA are intended to complement existing fishery

regulations and are not intended to replace existing regulations. MPAs address a broad array of ecosystem concerns and, in particular, allow for interactions between both fished and unfished species to occur in a more natural setting. If any changes to fisheries regulations were required in response to MPAs, this would occur through existing systems established in fisheries management plans and other regulatory frameworks.

 

Just because an area is closed to one type of use or another does not mean that it will always be that way. The adaptive management approach recommends that the MPAs be re-assessed regularly, and during that assessment the MPA designation can change.

 

The Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) allows CDFW to re-examine MPAs and the MPA Network to determine how effectively they are meeting MLPA goals. This examination is accomplished during what is known as a Decadal Management Review. Every 10 years California's MPAs are assessed for effectiveness. Changes may be necessary, either to individual MPAs or the Network as a whole, depending on how well the MPAs are meeting their goals.