photo courtesy MPACN
Whether you are a scuba diver, avid angler, wildlife watcher, early morning surfer, or simply a beach goer, California’s coast and ocean are world-renowned for their endless recreational activities. To help protect these diverse habitats and locations enjoyed by so many, California completed a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) in 2012, some of which expand upon historical MPAs that existed decades ago.
One of those historical MPAs was the state’s first MPA, which was established in 1929 along the La Jolla shoreline in San Diego County. That original MPA was later expanded into the San Diego-Scripps Coastal State Marine Conservation Area, and it is now one of 124 MPAs that make up California’s MPA Network, and one of 11 MPAs spread throughout San Diego County.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife manages the MPA Network. However, given California’s MPAs were designed by stakeholders and some coastal Tribes, it was no surprise that interest in their management extended beyond their design and implementation. The MPA Collaborative Network (comprised of 14 collaboratives organized by coastal counties) was founded by Calla Allision in 2013 to facilitate ongoing communication and engagement between those interested in local MPA management and managing agencies.
The San Diego MPA Collaborative provides locals the opportunity to regularly meet and discuss ideas or concerns regarding county MPAs. Currently co-chaired by Cory Pukini from WildCoast, Jayme Timberlake from the City of Encinitas, and Isabelle Kay from the UC San Diego Natural Reserve System, the San Diego County MPA Collaborative is comprised of members from over 40 organizations including city, state, and federal government agencies, non-profits, citizen scientists, tribes, commercial and recreational fishermen, and universities. “It’s an honor to work with such a diverse and experienced group of individuals,” commented Pukini. “It really shows that MPAs are a priority for this region.”
Since its inception almost a decade ago, members of the San Diego MPA Collaborative have led efforts to install local interpretive and regulatory MPA signs as well as distributing fishing guides that integrate Kumeyaay tribal practices and history regarding the resources. They have also designed and released a wildlife and recreation guide accompanied by beautiful illustrations of marine species commonly found off the San Diego coast, and produced an informative video showcasing San Diego County’s MPAs.
Members have also produced hands-on educational materials to help educate locals in a targeted way. MPA Outreach toolkits provide lesson plans, curriculums, and materials for children and teens at different age ranges (1st-5th grades, 6th-8th grades, and 9-12th grades). The materials cover a variety of topics like lessons on sandy shoreline habitats and MPA science. The MPA Ambassador Program provides informational trainings to local recreational ocean businesses (like kayak and dive shops) to increase visitor awareness of local MPAs and compliance with corresponding regulations. Upon completion, these businesses are recognized as MPA Ambassadors.
Becoming a member of the San Diego Collaborative, or one of the other 13 collaboratives throughout the state, is a great way for locals to stay connected to their nearby MPAs. If you are interested in learning more about the San Diego Collaborative or want to get involved, please visit their web page and sign up to be included on their mailing list. If you are interested in joining a different collaborative, please visit the MPA Collaborative Network website to find one near you!
This article has been updated since it was first printed in a CDFW MPA Management Program e-newsletter in April, 2019.
post by Amanda Van Diggelen, CDFW Environmental Scientist
This article is part of a series featuring California MPA Collaboratives. Read archived MPA News articles and the series Exploring California’s MPAs for more stories and information about California’s marine protected areas!
Marine Management News 