Marine science researchers and educators in Southern California are celebrating a recent decision by the California Fish and Game Commission to allow more access to some coastal Marine Protected Areas following a review that indicated the extra protections over the last decade have helped the local ocean ecosystem rebound.
There are 124 Marine Protected Areas, or MPAs, now designated statewide, with 50 of them off Southern California – they were created to help restore heavily fished and impacted sections of the California coastline.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife reported in 2023 that a review of the program’s progress in its first 10 years revealed many of the areas are now teaming again with life.
In the designated MPAs, the marine life, including plants, are protected from fishing or being removed, but that has also limited access for scientific study and several petitions have been made for exceptions for research.
“We’re glad we got through the first rounds,” said Ray Hiemstra, associate director of policy and projects for the nonprofit Orange County Coastkeeper, which petitioned for access to the MPA sites off Newport Beach, Laguna Beach and Dana Point. “We were looking at these areas for restoration projects. This now opens them up for projects like eelgrass and oyster restoration.”
In January, OC Coastkeeper made its request while also submitting petitions for at least 20 local environmental groups for greater access to the “natural ocean laboratories.”
The requests were divided into what the commission termed two bins. Bin 1 included requests considered noncontroversial and relatively simple to enact, such as the Coastkeeper’s request to do research, and most have been approved. The Bin 2 petitions are for more significant changes to expand and create new MPAs or, in some cases, reduce protections in existing MPAs to allow more fishing. Applicants in this bin have until Jan. 10 to submit any changes or tweaks to their petitions.
The commission will review those requests again in March.
The Laguna Bluebelt Coalition, for example, is requesting an MPA boundary extension along South Laguna, from Aliso Beach through Three Arch Bay, to make the area a no-take, no-fishing zone like the rest of Laguna Beach’s shoreline — local commercial sportfishing charters and lobster fishers oppose the idea, saying the loss would further reduce areas they typically now fish along the Orange County coastline.
Also among the pending decisions are a request from Los Angeles Area groups to expand the Pt. Dume State Marine Preserve boundaries to provide more protection and requests for changes off of Catalina Island, including making its Casino Point and Lovers Cove no-take zones. Groups are also asking for the Farnsworth State Marine Conservation Area off the island’s west side to be limited to spearfishing.
In San Diego County, environmentalists want to see the boundaries of the Cabrillo Reserve near Point Loma enlarged and want an OK to remove an exploding population of sea urchins off the coast along Encinitas. Because of a decline in sea otters and starfish populations off California, the spiny-purplish creatures have been devouring kelp forests, which serve as shelter and food for marine life.
Heimstra said he and other groups applaud changes the commission also made to the Fish and Game codes to clarify for the public what protections exist in conservation areas.
Related links
Local environmental groups petition wildlife commission for changes in protected coastal areas
Fishing community opposes extension of ‘no-take’ zone to South Laguna
Photo contest reflects ecosystem off Laguna Beach, encourages protections
Vision to revive a South Laguna estuary gets city support
Marine Protected Areas along California’s coast see success in first decade
“It clarifies that there is no take from a tidepool, not even a rock,” Heimstra said. “There is no take of a tidepool even when it’s covered in water. Some people thought that when the tide was high and you couldn’t see them, you could wade in and catch a lobster.”
Heimstra said he is looking forward to the new research opportunities that will now be permitted off Crystal Cove State Park, in Laguna Beach between Table Rock Beach and Goff Island, and off Bolsa Chica and Dana Point, which were previously off-limits.
“Now, we’ll have a fresh look there,” he said.
The most recent project that OC Coastkeeper has been involved in is eelgrass restoration in Upper Newport Bay, which involved seeing if eelgrass and oysters can survive together and become protection against environmental impacts. For years, the bay was more polluted than it is now.
Researchers studied the interaction over time by creating plots of eelgrass and oyster beds. The oyster beds became a natural armory to help with erosion, and the eelgrass filtered water. The group is also looking at removing an invasive algae species in Dana Point Harbor.
Marine biologist Nancy Caruso had in a request to restore green abalone in protected areas off Orange County, but her research wasn’t approved just yet, she was told it will need further review from the Ocean Protection Council, she said.
Disappointed her project didn’t get immediate approval, she is enthused by the research that can now commence in the Marine Protected Areas.
“Cheers to Ray for putting all these through,” she said.
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