California Is Evaluating Petitions to Alter Its Marine Protected Area Network

For the first time since its establishment in 2012, California’s celebrated Marine Protected Area (MPA) network could be modified in ways that will strengthen or weaken it. NRDC, Azul, and Environment California launched a mapping tool to show the proposed changes to the network. The California Fish and Game Commission (FGC) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) are reviewing those proposals as part of an adaptive management process initiated last fall. 

This process stems from the state's first Decadal Management Review (DMR), a report summarizing the results of 10 years of MPA monitoring and evaluation. Members of the public resoundingly supported the CDFW's recommendation to apply learnings from the DMR to “support proposed changes to the MPA network,” culminating in the submission of 20 different petitions by Tribal nations, non-governmental organizations, fishing interests, and community members. 

These petitions vary greatly in scope and purpose, with a majority focusing on achieving conservation and equity goals, like greater Tribal access, stronger enforcement of regulations, better protections for climate-vulnerable kelp forests, and increased network connectivity to boost ecological resilience. Some, however, call for fewer protections. 

Currently, the CDFW and FGC are evaluating the petitions and the adjustments they propose to the state’s MPA network. To support decision-making and facilitate public engagement throughout these evaluations, our mapping tool displays all of the petitions according to coastal region and summarizes the requests proposed for each MPA.

Right now, about 16 percent of state waters are protected under the existing MPA network, with only about 9 percent in fully protected areas. California's MPAs help fish populations thrive, enhance biodiversity, and make coastal ecosystems more resilient to warming ocean temperatures. If approved, the conservation-centered petitions would add roughly 2 percent of fully or highly protected areas of the California coastline to the network. Although a small percentage, the impact would be significant for reaching climate resiliency goals and safeguarding crucial areas of the state’s seascape.   

Threats to our ocean are increasing, from marine industrialization to major biodiversity loss. This petition process is an opportunity for all Californians, including those from inland and who live in underserved communities, to call for stronger ocean protections and a resilient MPA network for all Californians to enjoy. If you are interested in joining our efforts to increase ocean protections in California, you can participate in the petition process. The FGC holds regular meetings during which you can give public testimony and/or written comments. You can find more information for these meetings here. To submit a written comment, e-mail fgc@fgc.ca.gov or send it via postal mail. More details on written comments can be found here.