With initiatives such as the Marine Protected Areas Monitoring Enterprise, California is creating a model for the use of science in the management of our oceans.  The Monitoring Enterprise was created under the umbrella of the California Ocean Science Trust, a non-profit entity whose mission is to ensure that the best available science is applied to California policies and ocean management to successfully maintain a healthy, resilient, and productive ocean and coast. 

California is in the process of implementing the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA), which uses science guidelines, expert advisers, and extensive public stakeholder participation to design a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) throughout the state’s waters.  A large and growing body of scientific data and studies demonstrate that marine protected areas can be an effective and critically important tool to help restore and maintain the health and productivity of our ocean ecosystems.  For example, five years of monitoring in existing marine protected areas off the Channel Islands has demonstrated that many species of fish and invertebrates targeted by fishing outside reserves are bigger and more abundant inside no-take reserves, suggesting that these MPAs may contribute to protecting and promoting healthy ecosystems.  The 5-year review also revealed that fishing activity adjusted to new locations, and the projected downturn in party boat landings did not occur.

As the protected areas networks are put in place in each section of California’s water –- the Central Coast and North Central Coast are now complete while the South Coast, North Coast design processes are underway –- the MPA Monitoring Enterprise is working with the Department of Fish and Game, stakeholders and scientists to develop efficient, cost-effective monitoring that will:

• Assess and track marine ecosystem conditions and changes in conditions over time, inside and outside MPAs;
• Evaluate socioeconomic impacts and changes in human uses of marine ecosystems following MPA implementation; and
• Gather data to support evaluation of the design of the regional MPA network and continual improvement MPAs through “adaptive management”. 

Protected areas are not the only tool needed to protect ocean health and the human use and enjoyment of marine resources.  NRDC and our colleague organizations also work hard to help improve water quality, protect marine mammals, and ensure that any new activities in the our already over-crowded oceans do not further jeopardize our stressed ocean ecosystems.  However, MPAs will help to restore the resilience and productivity of our ocean ecosystems, enabling them to better withstand negative impacts and protect and restore one of California’s most valuable natural and economic treasures. The Monitoring Enterprise will lead development of targeted programs to improve the understanding of marine systems and document changes in marine ecosystems following implementation of MPAs.  The ecosystem-based information collected will also be useful in addressing other problems in our oceans.   

The North Central Coast portion of the MPA network was finalized by the Fish and Game Commission on August 5th, 2009, after careful deliberation and very extensive public comment.  Now, research projects will be selected to implement the North Central Coast MPA Baseline Program, characterizing key aspects of the ecology and socioeconomics of the region at the time of MPA implementation, and documenting initial changes after the MPAs take effect.  The Baseline Program is a collaborative effort among the State Coastal Conservancy, Ocean Protection Council, California Department of Fish and Game, California Ocean Science Trust, MPA Monitoring Enterprise, and California Sea Grant.

The program is now accepting bids from applicants who would like to work on this program.  Other things being equal, proposals that are best designed to work with local fishermen and other citizens from the North Central Coast will be prioritized over other applicants.

For more information, see the California Sea Grant website. Project proposals will be due no later than 5:00 pm PDT September 28, 2009, and awards are expected to be made by December 18, 2009.