Media Contact:
Jordan Traverso, DFG Communications, (916) 654-9937
The California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) today selected
Jan. 1, 2012 as the effective date for implementation of the marine
protected areas (MPAs) in Southern California. The revised effective
date is for the South Coast Study Region, which spans from Point
Conception in Santa Barbara County to the U.S./Mexico border.
On Dec. 15, 2010 the Commission adopted regulations to create a suite
of MPAs in this study region. Developed pursuant the California Marine
Life Protection Act (MLPA), this network of 49 MPAs and three special
closures covers approximately 354 square miles of state waters and
represents approximately 15 percent of the region.
The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) requested clarification and
further information, thus disapproving the original regulatory package.
This ineffectuated the Commission’s previously selected implementation
date of Oct. 1. All of the information requested by OAL is expected to
be provided in time for the Commission to put the potential re-adoption
of the regulatory package on its October agenda.
If re-adopted, the new effective date of Jan. 1, 2012, selected
today, allows time for OAL to review and approve the re-submitted
regulations, finalizing the lawmaking process. It also allows the
Commission and Department of Fish and Game (DFG) to better inform
affected ocean users of the new regulations.
For more information on the south coast MPAs or MLPA, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/southcoast.asp.
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