A nationwide poll released this month shows that 95% of U.S. residents support protecting ocean waters and ocean life.  The poll showed that 56% of American's support the approach used by California's Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA), responding positively to the statement: "Some U.S. water areas should be protected but open to public human use and scientifically managed for sustainable use".  The MLPA establishes a network of marine reserves and other refuge areas along the California Coast that are developed using science guidelines and allow for humans to continue to engage in important activities such as diving, surfing, swimming, and kayaking. 

The poll further validates the approach applied in the MLPA with the finding that  67% of American's agreed that if some areas were protected but scientifically managed for sustainable use, the protected areas should be selected by identifying specific areas with rare and fragile habitats or sea life to protect.  These numbers are consistent with past poll results in California and Florida showing approximately 2/3 of respondents support marine protected areas.

Surprisingly, 43% of respondents agreed all U.S, ocean waters should be fully protected from all human use.  This is a dramatic result which shows strong support for measures that are far more protective than any of our existing ocean management laws.  Notably, the Marine Life Protection Act does not stop humans from using protected areas for "non-consumptive purposes" such surfing and diving; it only prohibit fishing in about 10% of state waters.

Furthermore, American's who favor identifying a percentage of ocean waters to protect were asked what percentage of areas should be protected.  While off California's North Central Coast, the MLPA will only protects about 20% of state waters  - 74% of respondents felt that between 21-100% of ocean waters should be protected, while 61% of respondents felt 41-100% should be protected.  

The message of the poll is clear - American's support very strong protection of marine life, even if it means restricting some human activities in certain areas of the ocean.  What is even more remarkable, is that these positive results are clear despite the fact that the poll was commissioned and designed with an anti-MLPA agenda.

The poll, Nationwide Survey of Public Opinion on the Management of Ocean Resources, was conducted by firm Responsive Management for the Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries (ACSF).  The report authors acknowledge ACSF for their "input, support, and guidance on this project".  While the poll contains many findings that show extremely strong support for ocean protection and ocean conservation, the false choices, limited number of California residents surveyed and the wording of the poll's questions all demonstrate that the poll was intended to be a strong "push poll" for ACSF to use against the Marine Life Protection Act.  The use of selective and misleading quotes and findings from the poll in their press release "POLL: Public Doesn't Support Total Ocean Bans, Believes in Reasonable Regulation to Accommodate Fishing and Also Protect Species" further demonstrates the anti-MLPA agenda ACSF was attempting to advance with this poll.

It is a remarkable testament to the broad and deep national support for ocean conservation that - despite the problematic purpose and biased questions of the poll - American's responded with 95% support for ocean protection, 56% support for the approach being applied with the California MLPA, and 43% support for full protection of all U.S. waters.