California Marine Fishing Regulations and MPA Mapping
Current Status of Accomplishment or Milestone: Maps have been completed and are being printed.
Background: Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have become an important topic for discussion in fisheries management. Before a site can be selected it is important to know the types of habitat, the species present, the influence of ocean currents on larval dispersal and recruitment, and the current level of fishing pressure and protection. PFEL staff work on a committee to develop a network of MPAs along the California coast. In cooperation with the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) we are working to create a geographic information system (GIS) to synthesize the information needed for planning. PFEL has created maps of the existing protection by the regulated closure of areas to various fishing gears.
Purpose of Activity/Goal of Project: To facilitate the selection of sites for new Marine Protected Areas by showing areas protected by state and federal closures to specific fishing gears and by showing how much protection for finfish is actually provided by existing MPAs.
Description of Accomplishment and Significant Results: PFEL created a set of GIS maps that show overlapping areas of restriction to various fishing techniques including trawling, trolling, gill nets, traps, round haul, and set lines. This had never before been mapped for the whole state of California. Our mapping revealed that almost all of the state waters are closed to trawling for groundfish, shrimp and prawns and to gill netting for rockfish. Some areas have more restrictions on set lines, round haul and lobster traps. Most of the closed areas are within three nautical miles from shore, although areas closed to prawn trawling and to gill nets for rockfish and lingcod extend beyond three nautical miles in some areas. The recently enacted cowcod conservation areas are the only areas the Pacific Fisheries Management Council has closed for groundfish in California. These maps are currently being used in making decisions about placement of new MPAs. If an area is already closed to several types of fishing it will impact fewer fishermen if its level of protection is increased. These maps are also useful for helping fishermen know which gear restrictions apply in the areas they plan to fish. Most of the 53 existing MPAs are very small, only 9 prohibit all take, 4 others prohibit all commercial fishing, 4 more prohibit all recreational fishing, most others protect only certain invertebrates. A coordinated network of new, larger MPAs is being developed within the state waters that will provide more protection.
Significance of Accomplishment (e.g., to the Center, to Management, and to NMFS Strategic plan Goals): This project contributes to our process of developing new management techniques for marine fisheries under the first objectives of the NMFS strategic plan: build sustainable fisheries. It will be useful to the new federal program on Marine Protected areas created by executive order.
Problems: None.
Key Contact: Janet Mason, (831-648-9028; jmason@pfeg.noaa.gov)