Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative? A public-private partnership designed to help the State of California implement the Marine Life Protection Act, using the best readily available science as well as the advice and assistance of scientists, resource managers, experts, stakeholders and members of the public.

Why are you doing this? The Marine Life Protection Act was signed into law in 1999 and directs the state to redesign California's system of marine protected areas to increase its 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.

What are marine protected areas? Marine protected areas (MPAs) are named, discrete geographic marine or estuarine areas designed to protect or conserve marine life and habitat. Examples within California that you may be familiar with include Point Lobos State Marine Reserve, Point Buchon State Marine Conservation Area and Vandenberg State Marine Reserve.

What can I do in a marine protected area? There are three types of MPAs: state marine reserve, state marine park, and state marine conservation area, each with different rules about what activities can or cannot be done within each. In general, marine reserves do not allow any type of extractive activities (including fishing or kelp harvesting), with the exception of scientific collecting under a permit, marine parks do not allow any commercial extraction, and marine conservation areas do not allow some combination of commercial and/or recreational extraction.

When and where did the MLPA Initiative start? Redesigning the system of MPAs along California's 1,100 mile coastline is such a large task that it was divided up into smaller pieces. In the first phase of the initiative, a master plan framework was created to help guide the planning process within individual geographic areas, called study regions. After the framework was created, the first effort to redesign a group of MPAs took place along the central coast, from Pigeon Point in San Mateo County to Point Conception in Santa Barbara County. In April 2007 the California Fish and Game Commission adopted a final package of MPAs for the central coast.

When will the MLPA Initiative be in my area? The current study region being redesigned is the north central coast, from Alder Creek in Mendocino County to Pigeon Point in San Mateo County. Following that, the order of the last three study regions will be the south coast, the north coast, and the San Francisco Bay estuarine area but exact dates have not yet been determined.

How do I get involved in the process? The success of the first phase of the MLPA Initiative was highly dependent upon the active involvement of stakeholders and the general public in a variety of ways, including a regional stakeholder group, workshops, public meetings, and providing input on documents and MPA plans as they developed. The second phase of the MLPA Initiative again is affording many opportunities for public involvement. More information about the MLPA Initiative and opportunities for involvement, are listed on this web site under the Public Involvement heading.

Is it illegal to travel through or anchor in an MPA with catch on-board? Transit and anchoring are generally allowed, the language is found in Title 14 Section 632 subsections (a)(7) and (8). A few areas may restrict or prohibit transit and anchoring to protect a particularly vulnerable habitat or species, though all have allowances for anchoring or transit in emergencies.

(7)Anchoring. Vessels shall be allowed to anchor in any marine protected area or marine managed area with catch onboard unless otherwise specified in subsection 632(b), areas and special regulations for use. Fishing gear shall not be deployed in the water while anchored in a state marine reserve. Fishing gear, except legal fishing gear used to take species identified as allowed for take in subsection 632(b), shall not be deployed in the water while anchored in a state marine recreational management area, state marine park or state marine conservation area. Anchoring regulations shall be consistent with federal law and allowances made for anchoring required by emergency or severe weather.

(8)Transit or Drifting. Vessels shall be allowed to transit through marine protected areas and marine managed areas with catch onboard. Fishing gear shall not be deployed in the water while transiting through a state marine reserve. Fishing gear, except legal fishing gear used to take species identified as allowed for take in subsection 632(b), shall not be deployed in the water while transiting through a state marine recreational management area, state marine park or state marine conservation area.

How are MPAs designed in the MLPA process? Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are designed through a collaborative public process. A Regional Stakeholder Group (RSG) is formed of people who are knowledgeable in the uses and/or resources of the study region. Members may include, but not be limited to, commercial and/or recreational fishermen, educators and conservationists. The RSG works together to design MPA proposals for a study region. Once MPA proposals are completed they undergo scientific and policy review, and are ultimately approved or denied by the California Fish and Game Commission, which is the final decision making body in the MLPA process.

How do I know where an MPA is, are they all marked with buoys? Most MPA boundaries are designed to use major onshore landmarks and simple due north/south or east/west lines for easy recognition. However it is ultimately up to the user to determine if they are in an MPA. Regulations and site specific MPA maps are available on this web site, under the Existing State MPAs heading, or by direct link to www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/maps.asp. In some cases, boundaries that are complex or hard to determine may be marked with buoys, though this is not realistic in many areas due to depths and ocean conditions.

If an area is closed as an MPA will it always be closed? Not necessarily. The MLPA allows the Department to re-examine MPAs and the MPA network for effectiveness. This means that as MPAs are re-assessed for effectiveness changes may be necessary, either to individual MPAs or the network as a whole. This may mean changing allowances for extractive activities depending on how well MPAs are meeting their goals and could also mean that other previously closed sites may be proposed for re-opening. Just because an area is closed to one type of use or another does not mean that it will always be that way. The adaptive management approach recommends that the MPAs be re-assessed approximately every 5 years and during that assessment the MPA designation can change.

How does the MLPA and MPA placement effect existing fisheries management measures and closures? MPAs and the MLPA are intended to compliment existing fishery regulations and are not intended to replace existing regulations. MPAs address a broad array of ecosystem concerns and, in particular, allow for interactions between both fished and unfished species to occur in a more natural setting. If any changes to fisheries regulations were required in response to MPAs, this would occur through existing systems established in fisheries management plans and other regulatory frameworks.