Master Plan for Marine Protected Areas (approved February 2008)

The California Marine Life Protection Act Master Plan for Marine Protected Areas (Master Plan) is a document designed to guide the adoption and implementation and is required by the MLPA of the Department to prepare and present to the Commission of the MLPA. Among other topics the Master Plan provides guidance on the following:

• Context for implementing the MLPA goals and objectives
• Background information on California's marine resources and policies
• A description of the process for designing alternative MPA proposals
• Overviews on the design, management, enforcement, monitoring, and funding of California's MPAs

After extensive public comments, the MLPA Master Plan for Marine Protected Areas was approved as a living document by the Fish and Game Commission in February 2008. As a living document regional updates to the Master Plan will occur after the completion of each study region. Regional updates will be located in the Master Plan appendices and will provide more extensive information including, but not limited to newly adopted MPAs, regional management plans, lessons learned and an outline of scientific methodology for monitoring and evaluation.

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• Revised Draft Master Plan - January 2008
• Revised Draft Master Plan Appendices - January 2008
  • Appendix A: The Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA)
  • Appendix B: The Marine Managed Areas Improvement Act (MMAIA)
  • Appendix C: Implementation of the Marine Life Protection Act: 1999-2004
  • Appendix D: Strategy for Stakeholder and Interested Public Participation
  • Appendix E: Social Science Tools and Methods
  • Appendix F: Outline of Information Required for MPA Proposals
  • Appendix G: Master List of Species Likely to Benefit from MPAs
  • Appendix H: Summary of Recent and Ongoing Processes Related to the MLPA Initiative
  • Appendix I: List of Existing State MPAs
  • Appendix J: Defined Terms
  • Appendix K: Lessons Learned Reports from the Central Coast Regional Process
  • Appendix L: Estimated Long-Term Costs to Implement the California MLPA
  • Appendix M: Consultant's Adaptive Management and Monitoring and Evaluation Framework
  • Appendix N: Task Force Memos and Consultants' Report on Options for Funding the MLPA
  • Appendix O: Regional MPA Management Plans
  • Appendix P: Alternative Recommendations for MPAs Considered in Each Study Region
  • Appendix Q: Memorandums of Understanding for the MLPA Initiative
  • Appendix R: Science Methodology for Study Regions