CalOceans News

South coast plan has "something for everyone"

The San Diego Union Tribune calls the marine protected area plan recommended by the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force "a good compromise."

The Task Force met on November 11 to finalize their recommendations after receiving more than 10,000 emails and hearing over ten hours of public comment.  This level of community participation shows how passionate southern Californians are about their coast and ocean--it's truly the region's most iconic attraction, and many local people rely on the sea's bounty to make a living.

The Blue Ribbon Task Force considered both the economy and environment when weighing options, and recommended a middle ground plan that balanced
the concerns of different user groups

In a November 17 editorial, the San Diego Union Tribune said the south coast plan "will be good for everyone in the long run if it allows our coastal bounty to grow and thrive."

And that is precisely what the marine protected area plan is designed to do.  By protecting biological hot spots like Naples Reef, south La Jolla, and Point Dume, it will help rebuild depleted fish populations and restore fragile ecosystems.

• Tags:
• Marine Life Protection Act
• mlpa
• South Coast
• Marine Protected Areas
• Blue Ribbon Task Force
• integrated preferred alternative

Investment banks for fish

A new study by UC Santa Cruz biologists, published in the scientific journal PLos ONE, shows that marine reserves can restock waters outside of their boundaries, improving fishing conditions in nearby open areas. 

The biologists monitored 58 sites in Puerto Penasco, Mexico, on the
northern shore of the Gulf of California.
They found that baby fish born in marine reserves drifted along the coast, where they could be caught by local anglers. 

Study co-author Richard Cudney-Bueno describes marine reserves as investment banks for fish.  The more you invest in protecting big fertile fish (who produce exponentially more young--see graphic), the more interest you can collect as the babies disperse in ocean currents. 

He emphasized that the location of reserves is critical--you have to protect important feeding and breeding grounds in order to maximize returns.

Luckily, southern California's new marine protected area plan, unanimously approved by the governor-appointed Blue Ribbon Task Force on November 10, would create ocean sanctuaries where big fertile fish, and other plants and animals, can grow and multiply.
 

• Tags:
• marine reserves
• Marine Protected Areas
• Marine Life Protection Act
• South Coast
• Blue Ribbon Task Force
• science

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