Marine Life Protection Act Initiative

Introduction to the MLPA  |  MLPA Summary  |  Why the MLPA Initiative?

The Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) directs the state to reevaluate and redesign California’s system of marine protected areas (MPAs) to: increase coherence and effectiveness in protecting the state's marine life and habitats, marine ecosystems, and marine natural heritage, as well as to improve recreational, educational and study opportunities provided by marine ecosystems subject to minimal human disturbance. The MLPA also requires that the best readily available science be used in the redesign process, as well as the advice and assistance of scientists, resource managers, experts, stakeholders and members of the public.

California is taking a regional approach to redesigning MPAs along its 1,100 mile coastline, and has divided the state into five study regions. To learn more about the individual study regions, select one of the buttons below.

News Releases

• MLPA Initiative Issues Statement on Mendocino Commercial Fisherman Added to MLPA Stakeholder Group
  (posted February 6, 2010)
• MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force Chair and California Department of Fish and Game Director Announce North Coast Regional Stakeholder Group; The diverse cross-interest group of marine stakeholders will meet Feb. 8-9 in Eureka
  (posted January 29, 2010)
• Fish and Game Commission to Receive Proposals for Marine Protected Areas on California's South Coast
  (posted December 3, 2009)
• Recommendations for Improving Southern California's Marine Protected Areas Move Forward; Four marine protected area proposals will be forwarded to the California Fish and Game Commission
  (posted November 12, 2009)
• CDFG Director Donald Koch announces members of the MLPA Master Plan Science Advisory Team
  (posted October 27, 2009)
• Chair Don Benninghoven Issues Statement on Progress in Implementing the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative
  (posted May 14, 2009)
• 2009 Abalone Season Not to be Affected by North-Central Coast MLPA Process: Abalone fishing season opens April 1 north of San Francisco Bay
  (posted March 25, 2009)
• View the entire MLPA Initiative Newsroom