San Diego Coastkeeper


Marine Life Protection Act

Adopted by California in 1999, the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) is the first state law to require a comprehensive, science-based network of marine protected areas along the entire coastline. A network of marine protected areas (MPAs) improves upon existing single species regulations by safeguarding areas based on an understanding of marine ecosystem management. Following five years of delay of implementation, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger launched the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative in 2004 to make implementation of the MLPA a priority for California.

The MLPA Initiative relies on scientific information and encourages public participation in the design of the network of MPAs. Statewide implementation will occur in five phases by geographic region and began with the South Central Coast, followed by the North Central Coast, the South Coast, and completing with the North Coast and the San Francisco Bay. The goal is to complete this statewide process by 2011. The final decisions on MPA designations are made by a team of policy advisors guided by advice from appointed regional stakeholders and scientific advisory committees.

Marine Conservation Director Kate Hanley is a member of the MLPA South Coast Regional Stakeholder Group (RSG). This group has provided local expertise and knowledge of southern coastal communities during the MLPA process. Kate, along with the other RSG members have worked to research, design, and implement MPAs, with recommendations for the south coast expected to be completed by the end of September, 2009.

Resources

For more information, please visit www.caloceans.org.