CalOceans Alert

New Marine Protected Areas for Northern California Take Effect December 19, 2012

Implementation of the North Coast marine protected areas on December 19th marks the completion of our nation’s first statewide underwater park system. Thanks to the landmark Marine Life Protection Act, beloved areas like Cape Mendocino, Point Reyes, the Big Sur Coast, and La Jolla will be enjoyed by divers, kayakers, swimmers, birders, and tidepoolers for generations to come.

Over the last eight years, business owners, scientists, tribes, fishermen, conservationists and government  officials have met up and down the coast to map out protections that  will provide economic and environmental benefits for their communities. Their hard work, guided by input from tens of thousands of Californians, has created a system of safeguards that we can all be proud of.

CalOceans thanks all of the stakeholders, policymakers, scientists, and avid ocean lovers that worked so hard to make this possible.  Please see the Department of Fish and Game's North Coast page for detailed regulations and maps, and ourmap of the North Coast's new marine protected areas.

And, don't forget to check out our great new slide show celebrating our new statewide network of MPAs and the people that love them.