Available Now! MPA Decadal Management Review Report

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is pleased to announce that the first Marine Protected Area (MPA) Decadal Management Review (Review) report is now available!

The Review provides a synthesis of the last decade of management activities in the four pillars of the MPA Management Program and the effectiveness of the MPA Network at meeting the goals of the Marine Life Protection Act. The Review is informed by many sources of information, including an integrative analysis of statewide MPA monitoring data, shared perspectives and priorities from California Native American Tribes, information from MPA management partners, MPA enforcement data, scientific collecting permit data, and input from the broader ocean community.

Timeline of Upcoming Events

• February 2023: The Review will be submitted to the California Fish and Game Commission for their February 8-9, 2023 meeting in Sacramento. No action is anticipated at this meeting.
• March 2023: Public discussions on the Review findings and adaptive management recommendations will take place March 15, 2023 with MPA Day: Management Review Forum; see announcement below. A Marine Resources Committee meeting dedicated to discussing the contents of the Review will follow the forum on March 16, 2023. Both the forum and the Marine Resources Committee meeting will take place in Monterey.
• April 2023: The California Fish and Game Commission may discuss the Review findings and adaptive management recommendations at their April 19-20, 2023 meeting and subsequent meetings in 2023.

Save the Date – Management Review Forum

CDFW, in partnership with the California Ocean Protection Council and California Fish and Game Commission, is hosting MPA Day: Management Review Forum, a public forum to share the findings and adaptive management recommendations of the Review. There will be booth space at the forum for organizations to highlight the collaborative work over the last 10 years that informed parts of the Review.

The public forum will offer an opportunity for two-way conversations about the Review and management of the MPA Network. Please visit the CDFW MPA Management Review Forum web page for more details about the event and how to participate.

When: March 15, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., poster reception 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Please register for the forum by February 15, 2023 if you plan to attend.

Where: Monterey County Fair and Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road Monterey, CA 93940. The forum will take place in the Seaside and King City rooms.

How to participate in MPA Day: Management Review Forum

• Attend: If you would like to attend in person, please register by February 15, 2023.
• Remote: While there will not be a livestream of the event, the presentations will be recorded and made available online after the forum for those who cannot attend in person.
• Participate: If you would like to contribute a poster or represent your agency, tribe, or organization at the forum, please submit an abstract or apply for a table.

For all other inquiries regarding the forum, please contact CDFW. Additional details and information about the report can be found on the Review web page.

A Sincere Thank You

As the State transitions into its second decade of statewide management of the MPA Network, CDFW would like to recognize the tremendous effort and support of our many statewide, regional, and local partners. We want to express our sincerest gratitude to tribal governments and the many partners and stakeholders who have assisted in the MPA Management Program, provided feedback at MPA-related meetings or events, and contributed to the Review to help make it possible. We look forward to continuing our work with you to improve the MPA Network and Management Program, and towards meeting the goals of the Marine Life Protection Act.

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post by Amanda Van Diggelen, CDFW Environmental Scientist