|
See
a map of the habitats (PDF)
Click
here to view You Tube video, "MPA's Works with Pierce Brosnan"
What is the Marine Life Protection
Act
The Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) was
signed in 1999 and directs the state to reexamine and redesign Californias
system of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The MLPA is
a visionary state law that brings together scientists, fishermen,
conservationists, business owners, residents and Fish & Game
officials to create a long-term plan to restore and protect California's
most unique and threatened marine environments.
What are MPAs? MPAs
are named discrete geographic marine or estuarine areas designed
to protect or conserve marine life and habitat (Defined in Public
Resources Code, Sections 36602 and 36710). Just as parks on
land protect special lands and wildlife from overdevelopment, MPAs
and reserves preserve California's stunning marine ecosystems for
future generations to observe and enjoy.
Here's a list of MPA designations:
State Marine
Reserve (SMR): all extractive
activities are prohibited.
State Marine
Park (SMP): all commercial
extractive activities and potentially some recreational activities
are prohibited.
State Marine Conservation Area
(SMCA): some recreational and/or
commercial extractive activities may be limited.
Why is this necessary?
The Legislature addresses
the need to increase the coherence of California’s MPA systems
in order to increase its effectiveness at protecting the state’s
marine life, habitat, and ecosystems. Scientists
have shown that marine protected areas help restore depleted fish
and wildlife populations. In fully protected marine reserves,
scientists have found that fish can grow more abundant, bigger,
more fertile and more resilient in protected areas.
|
