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Marine Protected Areas Surrounding the Channel Islands Expanded; MPA Network Now Largest in Continental U.S.

Posted on: Thursday, 9 August 2007, 09:02 CDT

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Aug. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the National Marine Sanctuary Program announced the expansion of the network of marine protected areas in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. In 2003, the network was established in the first three miles which are managed by the state of California. The expansion out to six miles increases the total size of the network of marine protected areas (MPAs) by 145 square miles, creating a MPA network of about 318 square miles. Administrative adjustments by the State of California are also expected this fall. This action by the Sanctuary will help better protect species like mako and blue sharks, sardines, anchovies, lobster, and rockfish that migrate between shallow and deep water seasonally.

"Expanding the areas of protection will help ensure that select areas of the breeding grounds and nurseries for lobster and rockfish and other species are free from the pressure of fishing and other extractive uses," said Greg Helms, program manager for Ocean Conservancy. "Successfully balancing the needs of the habitat and marine-life protection with recreational and commercial activities ensures that we can enjoy these treasures today and tomorrow."

In September 2006, the Department of Fish and Game released a review of the economic impacts of the marine protected areas showing that Channel Islands fishing remained strong after the new state protections were in place. In fact, the three top local fisheries, lobster, urchin, and squid saw increased landings in 2005 by 23, 9, and 31 percent, respectively. Modest reductions in other fisheries such as sea cucumber and crab were less than landing declines elsewhere in California for the same time period. The proportion of recreationally popular fish such as white seabass and rockfish caught at the islands versus elsewhere in California remained virtually unchanged. Scientists predict over time that the long-term benefits to ecological conditions may increase the productivity and resiliency of local fisheries.

"We've known for years that a network of marine protected areas can help protect and rebuild marine-life, now we know that we can successfully implement these tools in California waters," continued Helms.

Marine protected areas are areas of ocean habitat protected from some or all of the pressures of extractive uses. Studies show that marine protected areas, especially no-take marine reserves, can help species grow tremendously in number, size and diversity. Scientists predict that these increases will eventually spill over into fishing grounds in the form of adult fish as well as eggs and larvae produced inside but maturing outside MPA boundaries. MPAs, unlike traditional management measures, protect entire habitats and ecosystems, encouraging stronger overall ocean health. Equally important, fully-protected MPAs create a unique underwater laboratory in which scientists and resource managers can examine untouched marine ecosystems and compare the effects of fishing regulations to these unfished zones. In the last several years, numerous scientific and policy organizations ranging from the National Academy of Science, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Pew Oceans Commission recommended strong MPA programs throughout U.S. waters.

The push to consider reserves at Channel began in 1999 at the urging of noted recreational fisherman Jim Donlon of Oxnard, California. Donlon pointed out that although U.S. land is protected as parks or wilderness areas, such protection was virtually absent from U.S. waters. In 2000, the California Fish and Game Commission and the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary convened a panel of stakeholders to consider the scope and boundaries of MPAs, including fully protected "no take" marine reserves. This panel produced a recommendation for an 11 zone network of MPAs spanning state and federal waters. The State portion of the network was implemented in April, 2003. Today's announcement expands the size of the network of MPAs to both state and federal waters but leaves the majority of Sanctuary waters available for fishing.

The State of California is currently working with similar stakeholder panels to identify an MPA network spanning the entire coast of California from 0-3 miles offshore under the Marine Life Protection Act. A network for the first of four state regions -- from Pt. Conception to Half Moon Bay -- is expected to be in place this September.

- http://www.oceanconservancy.org/ -

Ocean Conservancy

CONTACT: Tom McCann of Ocean Conservancy, +1-202-351-0465,tmccann@oceanconservancy.org

Web site: http://www.oceanconservancy.org/

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

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