MLPA Information
For complete information about the Marine Life Protection Act visit the official website at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/
Marine Life Protection Act
On February 25, 1999 California State Assemblyman Kevin Shelley (D - District 12 (San Francisco)) submitted AB 993 titled "Marine resources: Marine Life Protection Act". The bill was passed in the Senate on September 9, 1999 with a vote of 27 - 12 in favor (Senate Vote Results) and passed in the Assembly a day later with a vote of 47 - 26 in favor (Assembly Vote Results). On October 10, 1999 Governor Gray Davis signed the bill into law.
The text of AB 993 can be found here: AB 993
Marine Life Protection Act Initiative
The MLPA tasks the California Department of Fish and Game with designing and managing a network of Marine Protected Areas in California state waters. These MPAs are to be designed so as to protect against habitat and species loss. The DFG broke the task of creating the MPAs down into five geographic regions: Central Coast, North Central Coast, South Coast, North Coast, and San Francisco Bay. The DFG created the MLPA Initiative to oversee the design of the MPAs for these five regions. The MLPA Initiative is made up of several groups each with a specific task:
- Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF)
The Blue Ribbon Task Force is tasked with planning the process by which MPAs will be designed and goal setting for the other groups. The BRTF is made up of eight appointees of the Secretary of Resources who are chosen for their vision, public policy experience, and professional expertise. The BRTF makes the final MPA proposal to the DFG. BRTF member biographies can be found here: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/brtf_bios_sc.asp
- Science Advisory Team (SAT)
The Science Advisory Team is charged with providing scientific information to the BRTF and Stakeholder groups to create MLPA goals and to ensure that the designed MPAs meet those goals. SAT members are appointed by the director of the DFG and include experts and scientists in the fields of marine biology, fisheries, economics, and social sciences. The SAT reviews each MPA proposal and provides feedback. More information on the SAT can be found here: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/scsat.asp
- South Coast Regional Stakeholder Group (SCRSG)
The Stakeholder Group is a cross-interest group of approximately 65 members that is tasked with creating the MPA proposals. Members provide local and topical expertise from interests such as recreational fishing, commercial fishing, diving, state and local government representatives, conservation groups, business, academics, DFG, and the military. The SCRSG takes into account information from the SAT and direction from the BRTF. More information can be found here: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/scproject.asp
Marine Protected Area Types
The MLPA Initiative has established four types of MPAs that can be implemented. The MPAs are distributed at key habitats in Southern California waters by the SCRSG to create MPA proposals:
- State Marine Reserve (SMR) - Designated in RED on the maps
SMRs prohibit all forms of 'take' (includes catch and release). Activities such as walking, swimming, boating, or diving may be restricted.
- State Marine Park (SMP) - Designated in YELLOW on maps
SMPs prohibit all forms of 'take' for commercial fishing. Recreational fishing take may be restricted. Read the reports associated with each map to find out what restrictions are proposed for each SMP.
- State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) - Designated in BLUE on maps
SMCAs restrict recreational and commercial fishing. Read the reports associated with each map to find out what restrictions are proposed for each SMCA.
- State Marine Recreational Management Area (SMRMA) - Designated in GREEN on maps
SMRMAs restrict recreational fishing. Read the reports associated with each map to find out what restrictions are proposed for each SMRMA.
MLPA Progress
In 2007 the MLPA Initiative proposed and the DFG implemented the design of 29 MPAs covering 204 square miles in the Central Coast region. These MPAs included 13 no-take SMRs (covering 85 square miles), 15 SMCAs (covering 119 square miles), and 1 SMRMA.
In 2008 the MLPA Initiative proposed to the DFG a design of 22 MPAs for the North Central Coast region. These MPAs included 11 no-take SMRs, 9 SMCAs, 2 SMPs, and 2 SMRMA. The DFG was expected to approve the proposal in February 2009.
In late 2008 the MLPA Initiative started planning for the South Coast region. Meetings will be held throughout 2009 by the MLPA Initiative resulting in an MPA proposal being submitted to the DFG on December 10th, 2009. The DFG will then evaluate the proposal and either recommend changes or proceed with implementing it.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Why can't the DFG just impose catch and release regulations or stricter size and bag limits instead of outlawing fishing altogether?
This question was brought up by the SCRSG and the DFG answer essentially said that C&R would be difficult to enforce in an MPA because MPA definitions restrict all forms of 'take' and C&R fishing is regarded as taking. They also said that anyone in an MPA could not be in possession of fish even if they were taken for another area since the area of origin of the taken fish could not be determined. Regarding bag and size limits the DFG explained that enforcement would be nearly impossible given the same reasons that C&R was not possible. The origin of fish taken cannot be determined thus all fish in possession would be subject to the regulations of the MPA. The underlying reasoning seemed to be that DFG does not have the resources to patrol case-by-case but can patrol and enforce zero-tolerance restrictions. DFG responses to the question: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/pdfs/agenda_030309e1.pdf http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/pdfs/agenda_030309e2.pdf
- Aren't there already MPAs in place in Southern California?
Yes, there are MPAs already in place in each of the four Southern California coastal counties. These MPAs include extensive SMRs around the Channel Islands including Catalina, Bolsa Chica SMP, Laguna Beach SMCA, Dana Point SMCA, most of the San Diego county lagoons, and La Jolla SMCA. Any new MPAs created by the MLPA Initiative would be in addition to these already existing MPAs. A complete listing of pre-existing MPAs can be found here: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/maps.asp
- Does the MLPA Initiative realize that by closing areas to fishing that those areas not closed will receive more pressure thus causing the type of damage the act seeks to prevent?
Unknown. Some on the SCRSG realize this point but it remains to be seen if it will be considered when creating MPAs. Sending messages to key influential people and commenting on each of the proposed maps produced by the Initiative is critical to make sure this concern remains at the forefront of discussions.
- Does the MLPA Initiative realize the economic impact MPA restrictions will have on the community?
Yes, from listening to the discussions at the meetings and reading documents produced by the Initiative it seems clear that they do realize the economic impact of their decisions. Whether the fully appreciate the wide range of businesses that will be effected or how their realization will effect the MPAs designs remains to be seen. Sending messages to key influential people and commenting on each of the proposed maps produced by the Initiative is critical to make sure this concern remains at the forefront of discussions.
- Has the MLPA Initiative done any research to determine marine resource usage in Southern California?
Yes, though the completeness and partiality of these studies is questionable. The Initiative has contracted with several companies to conduct surveys and studies and provide the results for consideration when developing MPA maps. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has also provided information. In many cases the results of these studies have under-represented or over-represented certain groups and interests. There is also concern that the studies do not speak to the numbers of people using a particular resource or the seasonality of that use. More information can be found at these links:
http://marinemap.org/marinemap/
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/pdfs/agenda_030309k1h.pdf
http://mpa.gov/
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/pdfs/agenda_030309l1h.pdf
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/pdfs/agenda_030309l2.pdf
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