Marine Protected Areas in San Diego
Marine protected areas (MPAs) are like safe havens in our coastal ocean waters where sensitive marine life can recover and thrive. We can think of MPAs as "underwater parks,” designed to protect California’s most treasured ocean areas—our Yosemites of the sea. MPAs come in all shapes and sizes, but are most effective when protecting areas rich in habitat and species diversity. California is working now to create an underwater park system through the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA).
Marine Life Protection Act
Adopted in 1999, the MLPA is the first state law of its kind, requiring a comprehensive, science-based network of marine protected areas along the entire coastline. A network of MPAs improves upon existing single-species fishing regulations by safeguarding complete ecosystem communities. This holistic approach works best, because the health of so many species is interconnected – from sharks to sand dollars to seagrass.
The MLPA process relies on scientific information and encourages public participation in the design and placement of MPAs (literally drawing lines on maps and analyzing the benefits). The final decisions on which areas to protect are made by the Fish and Game Commission, guided by advice from appointed policy advisors, regional stakeholders and scientists.
Coastkeeper is heavily involved in the MLPA process, helping to preserve the natural beauty and bounty of coastal marine life that is the foundation of our local beach and tourism-based economy. In 2009, we worked alongside nearly one hundred others to design a southern California network of MPAs that will stretch from Point Conception in Santa Barbara, to the U.S./Mexico border.
Iconic Marine Protected Areas
Here in San Diego, our two most iconic ocean places, and the two areas that are most in need of protection, are south La Jolla and Swamis in Encinitas. Although the design process is now complete, the protected areas will not be formally adopted into law until late 2010 or early 2011. As the Commission considers different options for southern California’s MPA network, Coastkeeper will continue our work to save these unique and special places- and we need your help to succeed! It is vital that the Commission knows that our community values the ocean—learn how you can support the protection of south La Jolla and Swamis.
