Close

Login

Logging In
Invalid username or password.
Incorrect Login. Please try again.

not a member?

Signing up could earn you gear and it helps to keep offensive content off of our site.

August 26, 2011

California Fish and Game will discuss new effective date for South Coast MPAs

On Dec. 15, 2010 the Commission adopted regulations to create a suite of MPAs in the South Coast Study Region

The California Fish and Game Commission will discuss alternative effective dates for implementation of the Southern California marine protected areas (MPAs) at its next meeting. The MPAs were previously expected to go into effect on Oct. 1, 2011, after the Commission chose that date at its June meeting. They will now discuss a new implementation date at the Sept. 15 meeting in Redding.

This decision comes after the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) informed the Commission that they will not approve the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) south coast MPAs regulatory package in time to make it effective Oct. 1, 2011 as anticipated. It is a complicated package and OAL informed the Commission that it has additional questions and requests for more information that will require a re-notice.

On Dec. 15, 2010 the Commission adopted regulations to create a suite of MPAs in the South Coast Study Region, which spans state waters from Point Conception in Santa Barbara County to the U.S./Mexico border. Developed under the MLPA Initiative planning process, this network of 36 MPAs will be added to the 13 existing MPAs and two special closures in the Northern Channel Islands, which were established in 2003. Combined, the 49 MPAs and two special closures cover approximately 354 square miles of state waters and represent approximately 15 percent of the region.

post a comment
  • Anonymous comments will appear after it has been approved by a moderator.
  • Login or Register Now for your comment to appear immediately.
Please note: your comment will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. If you login or register your comment will appear immediately
The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
All submitted comments are subject to the license terms set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use