Marine Life Protection Act Passed by

California Fish and Game Commission!

Marine Protected Areas Go Into effect in january 2010

On August 5, 2009, the California Fish and Game Commission approved the implementation of the Marine Life Protection Act’s marine habitat protection plan for the North Central Coast. The plan, encompassing the area from Half Moon Bay to Point Arena, protects 151 square miles of coastal habitat, all of it within three miles of the California coast (see map on page 5 for details).

 

Twenty percent of the North Central Coast’s marine habitat will be conserved, half of that in no- take reserves, leaving almost 80% open to all forms of fishing, abalone diving, and urchin and kelp harvest. It is a balanced, win-win plan that represents a big first step towards meaningful marine habitat conservation in Northern California. The Environmental Action Committee has been deeply invested in this process since the beginning and was included in the Regional Stakeholder Group charged with designing marine protected area proposals for consideration by the Fish and Game Commission.

Marine protected areas have the potential to conserve California’s rich marine biodiversity, improve habitat health and ensure a more sustainable future for commercial and recreational fishing. Also included in the plan are special closures for seabird and seal colonies off the Marin Coastline, which will help prevent direct disturbance to these species during the nesting season. Thanks to everyone in the EAC membership who participated in this landmark effort at real, habitat-based marine conservation.