CalOceans News

A sea change for Southern California?

Oceanographer Sylvia Earle has logged more than 6500 hours underwater during her 50 years exploring the world's oceans.  She has seen many changes to plant and animal life over the years, and feels the ocean is now at a tipping point.  The good news, she says, is that we still have a chance to "tip things back in the right direction--if we act now."

The Marine Life Protection Act is our opportunity to create a sea change that will restore depleted sea life and habitats throughout California's coastal waters.  If we follow the science and create a strong, science-based marine protected area network, we can turn things around and leave a legacy of healthy oceans for our kids and grandkids.

In this Los Angeles Times opinion editorial, Sylvia explains why the conservation plan--or "Proposal 3"--is the best choice for southern California's ocean.  It will protect iconic places like south La Jolla, Naples Reef, Point Dume, and Laguna while leaving nearly 90% of the area open for fishing. 

The Los Angeles Times editorial board agrees--they too urge the Marine Life Protection Act Blue Ribbon Task Force to recommend Proposal 3 to ensure south coast waters remain healthy and productive for generations to come. 

Dr. Earle likens marine protected areas to jewels on a necklace: treasured areas where kelp flourishes, fish and invertebrates grow and multiply, and divers, snorkelers, and scientists can glimpse marine life at its healthiest.

Join the Los Angeles Times, along with southern California divers, surfers, educators, conservationists, scientists, and kayakers in supporting meaningful protection for our special ocean places. 

• Tags:
• Marine Life Protection Act
• marine protected area
• South Coast
• marine reserve
• Blue Ribbon Task Force
• los angeles times
• stakeholder proposals

Help protect southern California’s ocean gems

The south coast Marine Life Protection Act process is nearly complete, but we need your help to ensure the ocean protection plan adopted by California really works for our region.

Local stakeholders worked for over a year to map out a network of marine protected areas that will keep special places like Naples Reef, Point Dume, and La Jolla healthy for future generations. There are three plans on the table now, and the conservation plan will give us the most bang for the buck.

If you dive, surf, swim, tide pool, kayak, or just love to eat sustainable local seafood, you have a stake in this effort. The future of our coastal ocean hangs in the balance, and we have to get this right.

A strong marine protected area plan will do for our ocean what state parks have done for our most treasured landscapes—preserve their unique beauty so that everyone can experience nature at its best…now, and 100 years from now.

Policy advisors on the Blue Ribbon Task Force will finish reviewing the three plans on November 10, and identify the best choice for our area. Please consider sending them a letter to support a strong, science-based ocean protection plan like the one proposed by conservationists.

If you need inspiration, check out this great 20-minute film from the Baum Foundation, or watch this PSA on why MPAs work, featuring some familiar faces!

• Tags:
• MLPA Initiative
• Blue Ribbon Task Force

New MPAs Work PSA featuring Pierce Brosnan

The effort to create a network of permanently protected areas off the foast of California is picking up steam. This new Public Service Announcement-- featuring some familiar Hollywood faces--tells the story of how California is creating a network of MPAs (Marine Protected Areas) along it's coast for one simple reason -- MPA work.

Over fifty nations around the world are now implementing MPAs as the primary means of protecting ocean wildlife. In this PSA a number of celebrities (Pierce Brosnan, John C. McGinley ("Scrubs"), Edie McClurg "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"), Gabby Reece (fashion model/professional volleyball player), Amy Smart ("The Butterfly Effect"), Christa Miller ("Scrubs"), Simon Helberg ("The Big Bang Effect") help send out the message that a new day has arrived for protecting the oceans because ... MPAs Work!

Please help us spread the word! Send the video to your family and friends!

• Tags:
• marine conservation
• Marine Protected Areas
• marine science