FREE MAPS of MLPA SoCal edition

Guide to Southern California Marine Protected Areas Now Available
The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has released a printed Guide to Southern California Marine Protected Areas that shows boundaries of the new marine protected areas (MPAs) along the Southern California coast.

Guides are free and available from DFG offices in Santa Barbara, Los Alamitos and San Diego, as well as selected ocean-related businesses and harbormasters' offices along the coast. 

"This booklet makes it possible for us to reach a broader audience by putting printed local marine protected area information directly in the hands of the public," said Paul Hamdorf, Acting DFG Marine Region Manager.

The full-color Guide includes maps, coordinates, shoreline boundary images and regulations for Southern California MPAs along the coast from Point Conception in Santa Barbara County to the U.S./Mexico border, and around islands. Also included are descriptions of the goals of the Marine Life Protection Act which guided the MPAs' development, answers to frequently asked questions and links to DFG web pages with additional information.

Southern California MPAs went into effect on Jan. 1, 2012, after the California Fish and Game Commission adopted regulations in 2011. This network of 50 MPAs (including 13 pre-existing MPAs retained at the northern Channel Islands) and two special closures covers approximately 355 square miles of state waters and represents approximately 15 percent of the region.

For a list of locations and a map that shows where booklets can be found, please go to www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/sclocations.asp. The guide itself is also available for online viewing and printing atwww.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/guidebooks.asp.  

For more information, please visit DFG's Southern California MPAs webpage at www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/southcoast.asp.

DFG gets Mobil App for MPA

DFG Releases Mobile Website with MPA Maps

posted: 10/27/2011

By: Taylor Hill

 SACRAMENTO — Anglers heading out on offshore fishing trips will be able to locate all the planned Marine Protected Areas off Southern California with a glance at their smartphones — as long as they have cell service. The California Department of Fish and Game’s new mobile website recently added maps of the north, central and south coast Marine Protected Areas, so anglers can see where the no-fishing zones are — wherever they may be.

“We think this site is a thing of genius,” said DFG Director Charlton H. Bonham. “This site will help immensely in our outreach efforts regarding the MPAs.”

With the regulations already in place in the north coast and central coast areas, the south coast region regulations are expected to be implemented Jan. 1, 2012.

Though some offshore areas may have spotty cellphone coverage, the website is expected to be useful to anglers, boaters and others who plan to use or pass through MPA waters. Users can access the information from personal computers, as well as smartphones, tablets and other portable devices. The site’s color-coded map shows distinctions between different levels of protection in each MPA — and it allows users to select areas by map, county, region or by alphabetical order.

“This site is testament to the caliber and commitment of DFG employees,” Bonham said.

To view the site, visit dfg.ca.gov/mobile.
Marine Protected Areas to go into effect Jan. 1, 2012:

San Diego County:

Agua Hedionda Lagoon State Marine Reserve 
Batiquitos Lagoon State Marine Park
Buena Vista Lagoon State Marine Park
Cardiff-San Elijo State Marine Conservation Area 
Encinitas State Marine Conservation Area
La Jolla State Marine Conservation Area
Mia J. Tegner State Marine Conservation Area
San Diego-Scripps State Marine Conservation Area
San Dieguito Lagoon State Marine Park
San Elijo Lagoon State Marine Park

Orange County:

Crystal Cove State Marine Conservation Area
Dana Point State Marine Conservation Area
Doheny Beach State Marine Conservation Area
Doheny State Marine Conservation Area
Heisler Park State Marine Reserve
Irvine Coast State Marine Conservation   Area
Laguna Beach State Marine Conservation Area
Niguel State Marine Conservation Area
Robert E. Badham State Marine Conservation Area
South Laguna Beach State Marine Conservation Area
Upper Newport Bay State Marine Park

Los Angeles County:

Abalone Cove State Marine Park
Arrow Point to Lion Head Point Invertebrate Area, Catalina Island Special Closure
Catalina Marine Science Center State Marine Reserve
Farnsworth Bank State Marine Conservation Area
Lover’s Cove State Marine Conservation Area
Point Fermin State Marine Park

Ventura County:

Anacapa Island Special Closure
Anacapa Island State Marine Conservation Area
Anacapa Island State Marine Reserve
Big Sycamore Canyon State Marine Reserve
Footprint State Marine Reserve, Anacapa Channel

Santa Barbara County:

Carrington Point State Marine Reserve,  Santa Rosa Island
Goleta Slough State Marine Park
Gull Island State Marine Reserve, Santa  Cruz Island
Harris Point State Marine Reserve, San Miguel Island
Judith Rock State Marine Reserve, San Miguel Island
Painted Cave State Marine Conservation Area, Santa Cruz Island
Refugio State Marine Conservation Area
Richardson Rock State Marine Reserve, San Miguel Island
San Miguel Island Special Closure
Santa Barbara Island State Marine Reserve 
Scorpion State Marine Reserve, Santa Cruz Island
Skunk Point State Marine Reserve, Santa Rosa Island
South Point State Marine Reserve, Santa Rosa Island
Vandenberg State Marine Reserve

Make Your Voice Heard on Regulations That Propose to Close Southern California's Marine Waters to Fishing

This May Be Your Last Chance to Comment on MLPA Regulations Before They Are Finalized

The Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) process, which propose to unnecessarily close much of the state's best coastal waters to sportfishing, is near completion in southern California, but anglers and boaters still have an opportunity to provide input before these regulations are finalized. On October 3, the California Fish and Game Commission opened a 15-day public comment period for revised proposed regulations for the South Coast marine protected areas developed under the MLPA process. Revisions were made because the California Office of Administrative Law (OAL), which must first review and approve the regulations before they go into effect, rejected the regulatory package previously provided by the commission.

The re-noticed regulatory package attempts to clarify and revise several aspects of the commission's decision making per the OAL's request, and makes changes to some of the proposed marine protected area (MPA) boundaries and what activities will be allowed in them. The Partnership for Sustainable Oceans, which represents the interests of California's recreational anglers and boaters in the MLPA process, urges all anglers to provide their thoughts and concerns about the regulations prior to the October 18, deadline. Comments will also be accepted at the October 19 Fish and Game Commission meeting in Monterey, Calif. It is important that anglers respond to the revised MPA regulations since they may significantly affect their ability to access the most productive ocean areas!

Act Now

Enter your zip code below to send a letter to the Fish and Game Commission expressing your concerns with the revised regulations, and the MLPA in general, before the October 18 deadline. Thank you for doing your part to keep California fishing!

Click here to send a letter

Fish and Game Commission Votes on New Effective Date for South Coast MPAs

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.

Notice of Written Comments are due

During the regulatory process to amend Section 632, Title 14, California Code of Regulations, regarding south coast marine protected areas, changes were made to the originally proposed regulatory language.

Because these regulations are different from, yet sufficiently related to, the originally proposed regulations, the Administrative Procedure Act requires that we make the changes available to you for a 15-day written comment period (October 3, 2011- October 18, 2011).  Comments will also be accepted at the October 19, 2011 hearing in Monterey.

The continuation notice, including an updated informative digest, and the modified proposed regulatory language are posted at http://www.fgc.ca.gov/regulations/2010/#632sc. 

This is also to provide you with a notice of availability of a document added to the rulemaking file.  The November 3, 2010 Amended Initial Statement of Reason identified Attachment 17: California Department of Fish and Game Memo to the Commission regarding outstanding issues identified in the proposed Initial Statement of Reasons to Amend Section 632 Title 14, CCR (October 11, 2010) as a document supporting the proposed regulations.  This document is available for public inspection between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, at 1416 Ninth Street, Room 1320, Sacramento, CA, and on the Commission's website at http://www.fgc.ca.gov/regulations/2010/#632sc. 

Written comments must be received in the Commission office by 5:00 pm on October 18, 2011.  Interested persons may attend the October 19, 2011 hearing in Monterey and offer testimony.

Fish and Game Commission Re-Notices Proposed South Coast MPA Regulations

Sacramento, CA – October 5, 2011 – On October 3, the California Fish and Game Commission opened a 15-day public comment period for revised proposed regulations for the South Coast marine protected areas developed under the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) process. Revisions were made because the California Office of Administrative Law (OAL), which must first review and approve the regulations before they go into effect, rejected the regulatory package previously provided by the commission.
The Partnership for Sustainable Oceans, which represents the interests of California's recreational anglers and boaters in the MLPA process, is currently reviewing the revised regulations and will provide suggested issues to consider when commenting on the regulations prior to the October 18, deadline. Comments will also be accepted at the October 19 Fish and Game Commission meeting in Monterey, Calif. It is important that anglers respond to the revised MPA regulations since they may significantly affect their ability to access the most productive ocean areas.
During its September meeting, the commission outlined a proposed timeline to re-notice and finalize the South Coast MLPA regulations, resubmit them to OAL, and seek an anticipated effective date of January 1, 2012. This projected effective date is not only dependent on OAL approval, but also may be affected by the outcome of a pending lawsuit filed by members of the PSO.
The lawsuit seeks to set aside the MLPA regulations for the North Central and South Coast study regions, citing a lack of statutory authority for the Fish and Game Commission to adopt the regulations, and, in the case of the South Coast regulations, numerous violations of the California Environmental Quality Act in the commission's environmental review of the regulations. A hearing on the North Central Coast portion of the case, originally set for September 26, will now take place on October 6, in San Diego.

Ask Governor Brown to Remove Richard Rogers

Ask Governor Brown to Remove Richard Rogers
from the California Fish and Game Commission
Rogers' voting record shows he is no friend to California's sportfishing community or the state's economy

Background

At a time when California faces record unemployment levels, Governor Brown can take one simple action to remove a major impediment to the state's economy – remove Richard Rogers from the Fish and Game Commission.

Even though his term expired on January 15, 2011, Rogers continues to sit on the Commission because the Governor has yet to appoint a replacement. Since his 2005 appointment, Rogers has been one of the most vocal supporters of the anti-job and anti-fishing­ Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative. We urge Governor Brown to take action and name a new commissioner to take Rogers' seat.

The MLPA is a controversial program that threatens sportfishing in California, and the businesses and 20,000 jobs that depend on it, by unnecessarily closing large areas of the ocean to recreational fishing. The MLPA is costing California jobs and harming communities and businesses, while ignoring the real problems affecting California's coastal waters, such as coastal development, habitat loss and pollution.

On December 15, 2010, Rogers was one of three commissioners who voted in favor of a wide-ranging array of marine protected areas, essentially no-fishing zones, along the southern California coast. Other MLPA regulations – which Rogers also supported – are already in place and have cost jobs and fishing opportunity in California's Central and North Central Coast regions. Because of the flawed nature of the MLPA process, these regulations are currently being challenged in the courts.

The Partnership for Sustainable Oceans believes that Governor Brown should replace Rogers with a commissioner who understands his or her responsibility to conserve California's natural resources, understands the role of anglers in conservation and takes into account the impact of regulations on California's citizens, its economy and jobs for working families.

What You Can Do?

Click here to ask Governor Brown to remove Richard Rogers from the California Fish and Game Commission. Send your message today!