Submit Proposed Network of California Marine Protected Areas
for the Region Between
Point Arena and the Oregon Border
Current Status of Accomplishment or Milestone: The initial draft concept for MPAs in the Point Arena to Oregon Border area was completed and made available to the public through public meetings and the web. A revised plan was developed based on public input. The revised plan has not been released to the public because the Department of Fish and Game has altered the original planning process and is currently in the process of developing a series of stakeholder representative panels to develop an MPA network.
Background: California’s groundfish and nearshore fisheries are heavily exploited and concern has been expressed concerning their sustainability. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are one possible method to provide additional protection for these resources. In addition, many of the nearshore species have not been monitored in a way that will allow stock assessment with current methodology. Marine protected areas that will have population densities similar to those of an un fished population will allow assessment of the relative status of areas that are fished. Such assessments will be critical in the future management of these stocks and they are the principal basis of the research and monitoring system being developed for the Nearshore Species Fishery Management Plan of the State of California.
Purpose of Activity/Goal of Project: Dr. Richard Parrish was appointed to the eight-member scientific Master Team that is charged by the California Legislature, Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA), with developing a proposal for a marine protected area network for State waters. Dr. Parrish was responsible for developing the MPA proposal for the region between the Oregon Border and Point Arena.
Description of Accomplishment and Significant Results: For over an 18-month period, the Master Team developed the “Initial Draft Concepts” for a MPA network for State waters. These concepts were presented at ten public forum meetings in July 2001 and were make available to the public on the web (http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/mlpa/concepts.html). The original plan was to take public comment from these meetings as well as other small group meetings, to improve the plan based on stakeholder input and have a second (and third) round of ten public meetings to develop the final plan. However, before the second round of meetings could be scheduled public concern was so great that the Department of Fish and Game scrapped the planning process and developed an in-house plan to develop a MPA network based on stakeholder meetings of public representatives from seven geographical regions of California. This process will take approximately two years and entail about 60 public meetings. .
Significance of Accomplishment (e.g., to the Center, to Management, and to NMFS Strategic plan Goals): The science team, appointed by the California Legislature, has been asked by the Department of Fish and Game to not present the revision to the initial draft concepts and to wait until some future date when the new stakeholder process is well along on their development of a plan for an MPA network, before discussing the revised plan. The changes in the planning process will delay implementation of any Marine Protected Areas for approximately two years. .
Key Contact: Franklin B. Schwing, (831-648-9034, Franklin.Schwing@noaa.gov)