Educators gather for an MPA Speaker Series training held by the Catalina Island and Los Angeles MPA collaboratives photo courtesy MPA Collaborative Network
While Los Angeles County is home to 13 of California’s 124 marine protected areas (MPAs), only four of those can be easily accessed from the mainland. The remaining nine MPAs surround Santa Catalina Island, known simply as “Catalina,” and can be reached via ferry, boat, helicopter, or private aircraft.
Natural Bridges State Beach and State Marine Reserve. UC Santa Cruz’s marine science campus is located on the far point, bordering the reserve. CDFW photo by C. Shen
Mendocino Marine Protected Area Collaborative members pose for a photo at Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park Marine Protected Area Collaborative Network photo
Mendocino County is well known for its stunning coast and towering redwoods. These natural features are protected by an abundance of marine protected areas (MPAs) and state parks throughout the county. MPAs and state parks are often found side by side here, with nine of the 14 state-managed MPAs lying adjacent to a state park. About 25 percent of California’s MPA-state park pairs are located in Mendocino County.