CSO Weekly - June 8, 2012

The California Fish and Game Commission approved and adopted regulations for the north coast Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) on June 6, 2012, completing the network of MPAs in California's open coastal waters from Mexico to the Oregon state line. The plan, adopted by the Commission with broad community support, includes 19 MPAs, a recreational management area, and seven special closures covering approximately 137 square miles of state waters or about 13 percent of the region. The open coast portion of the statewide network of MPAs now includes 119 MPAs, five recreational management areas and 15 special closures covering approximately 16 percent of all open coast state waters. In addition, approximately half of California's new or modified MPAs are multiple use areas, with the remaining in no-take areas. The MPAs were developed to be consistent with California's landmark Marine Life Protection Act, requiring that California's MPAs be redesigned based on the best available science, with identified goals and objectives, and with the advice and input of stakeholders and experts to create a statewide network. The north coast MPAs adopted by the Commission on Wednesday are expected to go into effect by early 2013. For more information on the Marine Life Protection Act, click here.