Help us protect California’s coast and marine life

California’s network of marine protected areas has been a success, but the work is far from done. After ten years, much of the protected network has larger and healthier marine life populations than comparable unprotected areas and serve as a refuge for wildlife against climate- and overfishing-fueled instability.

We need your voice to show that Californians from all over the state support this program and want to see its continued success.

Send a message to help strengthen and expand marine protected areas

Send a message to the California Fish and Game Commission telling them to strengthen and expand marine protected areas.

A school of fish swimming over a reef located by Santa Catalina Island, off the southern California coast.

Photo Credit: Adam Obaza/NOAA

The Fish and Game Commission has reviewed findings from the program so far and is now deciding how to proceed. In order to see continuing success, we must strengthen and expand the marine protected area network. The state must also continue to consult with Tribal leaders as key stakeholders.

California’s coast is one of the state’s gems and preserving it for everyone—surfers, divers, beachgoers, recreational fishers, and so many others—is a critical goal. We’ve seen initial success in ten years, but this program is a longterm investment and continued commitment will result in even bigger wins in the future.

We need your voice to show that Californians from all over the state support this program and want to see its continued success.

CTA

Your Message

Subject Strengthen and expand California’s marine protected areas

Dear California Fish and Game Commission:

Message Body

I’m writing in support of the recommendations of the Marine Protected Area (MPA) Decadal Management Review. I urge you to pursue all of the recommendations, but especially the fourth recommendation to “Apply what is learned from the first Decadal Management Review to support proposed changes to the MPA Network and Management Program." In particular, focusing on strengthening and expanding the MPA network will result in huge benefits to coastal ecosystems and marine wildlife.

The results of the decadal review are clear that there are many positive improvements in the MPAs, including that fish are larger and more abundant as compared with reference sites statewide, the network provides a more stable ecosystem and serves as a refuge during climate change-fueled instability, MPAs had more corals, sponges and other life that provide critical structure in these habitats, along with other improvements.

While the results after ten years are a good first step, marine ecosystems often operate on longer timescales and we need a continued commitment to protections in order to see even greater benefits. By expanding and strengthening the network, we can ensure that our coast thrives.

While the commercial fishing industry is pushing for a one-sided approach to our coast that benefits their broad use, we need a more balanced management approach. By focusing on full marine ecosystem health, we can ensure sustainable fish populations as well as flourishing marine life for decades to come. Surfers, divers, recreational fishers, beach-goers, Tribal communities, and many others all benefit from and rely on our coast, so prioritizing the needs of only one group will harm the equitable access of all the others.

Please protect the health of our coast for years to come by building upon the important work started over the past ten years.

Thank you.

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